New COVID-19 strain with 10-times more infection rate detected in Malaysia

Malaysia has recently detected a new COVID-19 strain that is 10 times more infectious. The mutation of the virus is called DG14G.

Highlights

According to the Malaysian Government, the mutation was found in at least three of the 45 case. Also, it started from a restaurant owner who had returned from India. The Government also reported that he breached his 14 day Home Quarantine.

According to doctors, the new mutated virus is capable of spreading the disease at faster rate.

What is D614G?

It is the official name given to the new mutated COVID-19 virus. It was first detected in Europe. However, it is now being seen in different parts of the world and has been found in Malaysia for the first time. The D614G is located within the virus protein that makes up the spikes. These spike proteins are used by the virus to break into the human cells. The mutation changes are found at the 614th position of the amino acids in the spike proteins. It is between D (aspartic acid) and G (Glycine) and hence the name D614G.

Indian researchers have found 73 variants so far

The researchers from Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) have so far found 73 new variants of COVID-19 in their three months of research.

What is mutation?

It is the change in structure of gene caused due to insertion deletion or rearrangement of larger sections of genes. This does not mean that mutation should be anthropogenic. Mutation also occurs naturally and mainly when a gene is passed on from one generation to other.

Sometimes, mutation can even lead to a weaker virus.

WHO

According to WHO, one-third of COVID-19 samples show mutation. The WHO had earlier reported that the increase in COVID-19 cases in Italy and New York might be predominantly due to D614G.

Mutations in other viruses

COVID-19 virus is mutating very slowly. Similar mutations were also found in other deadly viruses such as small pox, herpes, and Human Papillomavirus.


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