‘Double’ and ‘triple’ mutant variants of coronavirus detected in Nepal

Photo: WHO

NL Today

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Kathmandu: The genome sequencing of samples collected from several parts of the country has shown that there are new variants of coronavirus in Nepal.

Issuing a press statement, the Ministry of Health and Population said that new variants were confirmed in samples tested in India.

Of the 35 total samples collected from across the country, “B.1.617.2” variant was found in 34 samples, while “B.1.617.1” was found in one sample. The genome sequencing was conducted at CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology.

With this, Nepal has three variants of coronavirus, said the Health Ministry.

“The variant found in Nepal is the same double and triple mutant found in India,” said virologist Dr Sher Bahadur Pun.

With this, Nepal has three variants of coronavirus, said the Health Ministry.

The World Health Organization has already declared the new variant as the “new variant of concern’.