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Delta variant may mutate locally 

14 Aug 2021

  • High-risk scenario noted by J’pura Uni 
  • Numbers irrelevant, as virus everywhere: Dr. Jeewandara 
  • Sequencing runs underway to detect Delta Plus, Epsilon 
BY Aazam Ameen With the onset of the exponential spread of the virulent B.1.617.2 Delta variant of Covid-19 in the country, The Sunday Morning learnt that Sri Lanka must anticipate the possibility of the said variant mutating locally.  Speaking to The Sunday Morning, Sri Jayewardenepura University Allergy, Immunology, and Cell Biology Unit Director Dr. Chandima Jeewandara stressed that this is a high-risk scenario.  “When you have a variant which is spreading rapidly, the chances of it mutating are very high. Therefore, we must anticipate local mutations of the Delta variant,” he explained.   While the laboratory at the Sri Jayewardenepura University released updated numbers of Delta variant detections in the country, which stood at 117 last week, Dr. Jeewandara noted, however, that the numbers do not hold any significance anymore.   “Numbers are immaterial because the virus is everywhere now. What is important in this situation is to monitor the evolution of the Delta variant,” he elaborated.  In this regard, Dr. Jeewandara explained that the Sri Jayewardenepura University’s Allergy, Immunology, and Cell Biology Unit is currently performing at its maximum capacity in order to detect new variants through sequencing runs.  “However, I don’t think that we can increase our capacity to conduct more sequencing runs unless the Health Ministry or other university laboratories begin to do the same concurrently. As per World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendations, numerous methods have been proposed in order to conduct sequencing. However, we are a university that teaches, conducts research, and carries out various other administrative work, and therefore, in the midst of all these functions, operating solely as a sequencing lab is impossible for us,” he emphasised.  In terms of the B.1.617.2.1 or AY.1 Delta Plus variant with additional mutations which may confer a survival advantage to the virus, as it could be resistant to certain therapeutics, Dr. Jeewandara noted that this variant has not been detected so far based on the findings made at the Sri Jayewardenepura University’s laboratory.   The same is also true for the reportedly vaccine-resistant CAL.20C or B.1.427 and B.1.429 Epsilon variants of US origin.  According to Dr. Jeewandara, his laboratory is currently in the process of conducting another sequencing run, the results of which will show whether any new variants are circulating in Sri Lanka.   The results are expected to be published by the end of this week.  


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