COVID-19 mutant detected in Kerala, experts demand speedy vaccinations to check spread

Mutant variants of COVID-19 which could lower the efficacy of vaccines have been found in 123 samples from 11 districts, according to the Union health ministry. The N440K variant that is associated with immune escape has been found in 2032 samples sequenced at the CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Interactive Biology which is part of the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Consortium on Genomics (INSACOG). It is a new variant when compared to UK (B.1.1.7), South African (B.1.351) and Brazilian (P.1) lineages.