KATHMANDU, July 27: Nepal has reported new mutant of COVID-19 Delta variant.
Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) in a statement on Tuesday said that a new Kappa variant has been detected in Nepal. The country has already reported cases of Alfa and Delta variants.
Delta Plus variant of COVID-19 detected in Nuwakot
All 47 samples tested recently were confirmed to be Delta variant. However, three of them are found to be new mutant known as K417N of the Delta variant, according to the MoHP. The three new Delta mutants confirmed in Nepal have been named as A.Y1.
Nepal has so far recognized Alfa (B.1.617.1) and Deta variant (B.1.617.2) as variant of concern and Kappa variant (B.1.617.1) as variant of interest. It is said that the newly-detected mutant of the Delta variant is more fatal than the mutants detected before. These mutants are likely to infect people with all age groups.
The MoHP has urged all people to take extra precautions and follow health safety standards to avoid possible infection of this virus. The ministry has also asked all to prepare for the third wave of COVID-19 which experts have said would far more challenging than the first wave and the second waves of the pandemic.
