India Worries over New Corona Variant deadlier than Delta

26

Nov

Suman Verma

India is worried over the discovery of a new coronavirus variant with a high number of spike mutations spreading across several countries, especially in African nations. This variant is more deadly than the Delta variant that caused havoc during the second wave.

Scientists fear that the variant- B.1.1.529 high mutation could make the virus more resistant to vaccines, quick to spread and cause more severe symptoms.

Overall there are around 50 mutations in the B.1.1.529 including more than 30 on the spike protein. Since the current anti-COVID vaccine targets to control spike protein, the high mutation in the virus could help in unlocking access to the body's cells. Studies are ongoing to find out whether this will make the virus spread faster or lethal than their predecessors’ variants.

The variant appears more deadly than Delta because there are 10 mutations on the receptor binding domain part of the variant in comparison to just two in Delta variant.

Origin of the new variant is still unknown. As per Francois Balloux, the Director of the London-based UCL Genetics Institute it could have come from a chronic infection of an immune-compromised person, possibly suffering from an untreated HIV/AIDS patient.

The virus was first identified in South Africa this week. It spread quickly to the neighboring countries. In Bostwana even fully vaccinated people started feeling sick due to infection triggering global alarm well.

In South Africa alone cases have crossed 100 marks. After Bostwana, now it has also spread to South Asia nations. Two cases were detected in Hong Kong. Both have travelled from South Africa. Epidemiologist Dr Eric Feigl-Ding through tweets informed about the detection saying their samples showed “very high” viral loads.

India authorities have already put a rigorous screening of passengers coming from these countries. "This variant... has serious public health implications in view of recently relaxed visa restrictions and opening of international travel," the ministry said.

Due to a global surge in covid cases even when in India spread is still confined to few states and districts, the government continues to emphasize to maintain Covid appropriate behavior of social distancing, masking and double dosage of vaccination.

The Union Health Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviy is constantly engaged with his counterparts in state government to boost up health infrastructures including adequate availability of medical grade oxygen in case of an emergency. Government hospitals have floated several tender bids to invite private companies to install an oxygen production plant and oxygen supply.

Bhartiya Cryogas is one such oxygen manufacturing company leading the government as well as private hospitals and healthcare facilities efforts to boost the oxygen supply network in India. Much before the Corona’s outbreak, the company has been India’s leading commercial oxygen manufacturer, manufacturer of oxygen plants, acetylene plant and oxygen cylinder filling plants. During the pandemic, they used their vast experience and facilities to immediately produce and supply medical grade oxygen.

During the second wave, Bhartiya Cryogas, top manufacturer and supplier of customized Cryogenic and PSA (PRESSURE SWING ADSORPTION) Medical Oxygen Generation plants rose to meet national crisis by quickly turning its vast experience and facilities to produce and supply Medical PSA Oxygen Plant.

P K Dutt, the Founder CEO of Bhartiya Cryogas claimed that within a record period of three months, his company beefed up their facilities on a war footing to design, fabricate and deliver customized highest quality standard Medical PSA oxygen.

With impending third wave of Corona, a dedicated team of engineers have been deputed by the company for commissioning these PSA Oxygen Plant to Government Hospitals located at Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Maharashtra as part of the ongoing contractual obligations. There are several types of pants fabricated and supplied by Bhartiya Cryogas. They are:

CRYOGENICS

1) Medium Pressure Oxygen/Nitrogen Gas/Liquid Plants

2) Low Pressure Oxygen/Nitrogen Gas/Liquid Plants

PRESSURE SWING ADSORPTION (PSA)

1) PSA/VPSA Oxygen/Nitrogen Generators

INDUSTRIAL GAS PLANTS

1) Hi-tech Acetylene plants

2) Nitrous Oxide plants

3) CO2 plants

4) Cylinder Filling Station