Different strain of Covid-19 virus in S’wak now

Local Government and Housing Minister Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian has called for greater research into the strain of Covid19 in Sarawak as people in the state appear to be more likely to develop symptoms compared with the rest of the world.

During a discussion on the pandemic which was streamed live on Facebook yesterday, he said the virus has continued to mutate and there was not enough understanding on how it affects people.

“…we have yet to figure out what are the consequences of the variations in the mutations. We still do not know yet what the critical consequences are.

“That may explain why in Sarawak we noticed that 40 per cent of those infected showed symptoms whereas worldwide, only 20 per cent have symptoms.

“We need scientists, universities and specialists to conduct more research to see in what way the strains in Sarawak are different,” he said.

The discussion was hosted by Sibu Municipal Council chairman Clarence Ting and also participated remotely by Sarawak General Hospital infectious disease specialist Dr Chua Hock Hin and Sibu Crime Prevention and Community Safety Division head DSP Ariffin Bahar.

Dr Sim also said that based on a genetic sequencing study conducted by Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas), the Covid-19 strain in the Pasai Cluster here had similarities with the one in Peninsular Malaysia and the United Kingdom.

For the Stutong and Keranji clusters in Kuching, he said they had genetic components from Indonesia and the UK.

“We are so certain that the outbreak in Kuching before Christmas last year and the New Year are originally from Indonesia and some UK variants inside.

“The genetic sequencing of infection we had in March to April last year showed totally different strains than now. The one that we had in March to April last year are mostly from Wuhan, China,” he explained.

Dr Sim also said that the UK variant in the Stutong and Keranji clusters was not the new UK Covid-19 mutation, which is known as the B.1.1.7 mutation.

“No, they are not that particular mutation from the UK. They are a different mutation from the UK because this virus is very smart. It keeps on mutating.

“And now there is also an African strain. It is constantly mutating,” he said.

The Pasai Cluster in Sibu which started last month is the epicentre of the state’s worst Covid-19 outbreak since the virus hit Sarawak last year.

Sarawak Disaster Management Committee in its daily update yesterday said the Pasai Cluster has contributed 2,363 out of the 5,760 infections recorded in the state thus far.

The death toll from the virus in Sibu alone yesterday also rose to 25 with three more deaths. The state’s total death toll now stands at 53.

When contacted later yesterday, Dr Sim revealed that the Health Department has been requested to conduct a mortality review of Covid-19 fatalities in Sarawak.

He said the review would take into account the age, race, comorbidities of the deceased and where they are from.

“The mortality review will give a better understanding of the cause of death, why people are dying. For instance, is there a difference between the urban and the rural cases?” he told The Borneo Post.

Asked if the number of new cases yesterday was an indication that the pandemic was slowing down in the state, Dr Sim said it was still too soon to tell.

“We need to have consistent numbers over a few days to be sure,” he said.

Sarawak’s daily Covid-19 cases recorded a significant improvement yesterday, falling to two digits with 84 cases after almost a week at triple digits.