Asymptomatic virus strain active in Kanpur: Study

KANPUR: A coronavirus strain, which is highly infectious, mutates frequently but makes the carrier asymptomatic, is active in Kanpur city, according to a study by Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi Memorial (GSVM) Medical College’s microbiology department here.

Known as the serine or ‘S’ strain of the Sars-Cov-2 pathogen, it more virulent than the L strain which has hit Maharashtra and Gujarat, according to the same study. A strain is a subtype of a virus that is created due to mutation in the genome of the said virus.

The department has conducted nasal and throat swab tests on over 4000 patients through reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RTPCR) method and prepared a database of Covid-19 infected persons. This method is a lab technique combining reverse transcription of RNA into DNA.

Dr Vikas Misra, associate professor at microbiology department of GSVM Medical College, confirmed the ‘S’ strain virus was found during the tests on coronavirus patients in the city. A report in this regard has been sent to Indian Council for Medical Research. Experts at ICMR have confirmed ‘S’ and ‘L’ strains of coronavirus are active.

Although it has been seen that the ‘S’ strain virus loses its force in high temperature, it is yet to be ascertained if it gets eliminated in high temperature, the experts add. Although the death rate due to ‘S’ strain is low at 3.2 percent, it is highly infectious as the virus can be transmitted from one patient to over 400.

Besides, it is asymptomatic and hence difficult to trace the coronavirus infection in a person, Dr Misra says.