Translate
07 March 2021
Nigerian Variant B1.525 Mutations Do Not Affect Ability To Detect, Trace Covid-19 Infected Persons
Covid: Nigerian variant B1.525 mutations do not affect ability to detect, trace infected persons
BERNAMA
7/3/2021
KUALA LUMPUR, March 7: The Nigerian Variant B1.525 of Covid-19 has important mutations in the spike protein but they do not affect the ability to detect or trace a person infected with the variant, said Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah (pix).
He said this is because existing polymerase chain reaction (PCR) kits use multiple targets to detect variants even though that person can be asymptomatic.
“Currently, no data suggests that this variant is of more virulence or causes increased fatality,” he said in a media statement yesterday in response to questions on the Nigerian variant.
From laboratory study reports, Dr Noor Hisham said, mutation E484K which was also seen in other variants, including the South African (B.1.351) and Brazilian (P.1) variants, had been associated with some level of resistance to neutralising antibodies which were needed to confer protection.
The resistance means a possible reduction in the effectiveness of natural immunity or vaccine-derived immunity against this mutation, he added.
“Mutation D614G causes increased transmissibility due to favourable conditions for the virus to infect permissible cells and replicate.
“Another mutation called Q677H has also been related to a possible increase in transmissibility due to the virus’s efficient binding to human cell receptors,” he said.
Referring to the first two cases of the Nigerian variant in Malaysia, Dr Noor Hisham said it involved a married couple of Indian nationals, aged 36 and 33, who were travelling with their six-year-old son.
He said the husband is a finance professional who has worked for the past two years in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and they travelled to Malaysia as the husband received an employment offer.
“The husband was initially admitted to the Low-Risk Covid-19 Quarantine and Treatment Centre but was transferred to a private medical centre a day later upon his request. He was discharged well on Feb 9.
“As the wife was in her early pregnancy, she was admitted together with their son to Sungai Buloh Hospital. She was discharged well on Feb 15,” he said.
Dr Noor Hisham said these two travellers arrived in Malaysia on Jan 31, and the Health Ministry had taken nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs for RT-PCR at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) as they did not have a pre-departure Covid-19 test.
They were then quarantined at a designated quarantine station and remained asymptomatic; however, the lab confirmed their RT-PCR results to be Covid-19 positive on Feb 2.
Dr Noor Hisham said the Institute for Medical Research (IMR) subsequently performed full genome sequencing due to their travel history, and the IMR completed the sequencing analysis on March 4, which showed the two cases had the Nigerian Variant of SARS-CoV-2 (B1.525).
Popular Posts - Last 7 days
-
BBQ Buffet Buy 2 Free 1 Experience a sumptuous BBQ Steamboat Buffet Dinner with Royale Chulan's exclusive "Buy 2 Free 1&qu...
-
Wan Saiful trial: Prosecution witness says RM38,160 deposited into Sinar Karangkraf account Bernama 18/09/2024 Former Bersatu Information c...
-
Officials describe apparent assassination attempt on Donald Trump Trump was the subject of an apparent assassination attempt at his...
-
KLIA immigration officers now banned from using mobile phones while on duty - Azam Baki Bernama 18/09/2024 The Chief Commissioner of the Ma...
-
Witness: Guan Eng approved RM2m bribe through middleman to avoid MACC detection KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 20 — The Sessions Court was told today ...
-
Pharmaniaga launches Malaysia's first locally owned biopharmaceutical plant Bernama 19/09/2024 Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khal...
-
Tupperware files for bankruptcy as its colorful containers lose relevance Reuters 18/09/2024 Tupperware Brands Corp's struggles resumed ...
-
Australia police charge man with being alleged mastermind of global crime app Reuters 18/09/2024 An Australian Federal Police officer arrest...
-
Emmy Awards 2024 Winners List: ‘Shogun’ Dominates With 18 Wins, and ‘The Bear’ Cooks Up 11 VARIETY For the second time this year, Hol...
-
A prisoner from Sungai Buloh Prison has escaped from Sungai Buloh Hospital, while receiving treatment The escapee, identified as 27-year-old...
Popular Posts - Last 30 days
-
Malaysia COVID-19 cases soar above 5k Melissa Fernando ASRTRO AWANI Julai 16, 2022 = Malaysia COVID-19 cases soar above 5k There were eigh...
-
37 individuals remanded in probe into misappropriation of PenjanaKerjaya funds Bernama Julai 15, 2022 MACC today remanded 37 individuals to...
-
Twitter sues Elon Musk to hold him to $44 billion deal Reuters Julai 13, 2022 The lawsuit accused Musk of "a long list" of viola...
-
All Malaysian pilgrims complete haj pilgrimage Bernama Julai 12, 2022 All 14,305 Malaysian pilgrims have completed the Haj without any unt...
-
BBQ Buffet Buy 2 Free 1 Experience a sumptuous BBQ Steamboat Buffet Dinner with Royale Chulan's exclusive "Buy 2 Free 1&qu...
-
Wan Saiful trial: Prosecution witness says RM38,160 deposited into Sinar Karangkraf account Bernama 18/09/2024 Former Bersatu Information c...
-
Shahrol Azral transferred 1MDB money to Jho Low's company twice - Najib's lawyer Named 02/09/2024 Datuk Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi...
-
Evening Standard Otter attack in Malaysia leaves woman bloodied and unable to stand EVENING STANDARD 12 September 2024 Otter attack in Mal...
-
CIMB recorded a net profit of RM3.9 billion in 6 months ASTRO AWANI 31/08/2024 Novan said CIMB's achievements were supported by the tru...
Blog Archive
-
►
2024
(2940)
- September (256)
- August (356)
- July (273)
- June (329)
- May (352)
- April (317)
- March (342)
- February (352)
- January (363)
-
►
2023
(3771)
- December (311)
- November (322)
- October (286)
- September (288)
- August (365)
- July (349)
- June (372)
- May (316)
- April (279)
- March (301)
- February (245)
- January (337)
-
►
2022
(4309)
- December (352)
- November (422)
- October (288)
- September (281)
- August (347)
- July (303)
- June (335)
- May (406)
- April (341)
- March (371)
- February (390)
- January (473)
-
▼
2021
(9030)
- December (636)
- November (647)
- October (809)
- September (797)
- August (880)
- July (894)
- June (747)
- May (780)
- April (580)
- March (629)
- February (643)
- January (988)
-
►
2020
(6800)
- December (819)
- November (698)
- October (832)
- September (729)
- August (548)
- July (558)
- June (615)
- May (394)
- April (368)
- March (453)
- February (439)
- January (347)
-
►
2019
(4089)
- December (411)
- November (425)
- October (375)
- September (279)
- August (397)
- July (353)
- June (326)
- May (315)
- April (266)
- March (318)
- February (293)
- January (331)
-
►
2018
(4100)
- December (305)
- November (304)
- October (357)
- September (352)
- August (420)
- July (442)
- June (366)
- May (412)
- April (343)
- March (275)
- February (233)
- January (291)
-
►
2017
(3888)
- December (268)
- November (293)
- October (352)
- September (309)
- August (356)
- July (300)
- June (319)
- May (354)
- April (316)
- March (335)
- February (306)
- January (380)
-
►
2016
(4563)
- December (331)
- November (328)
- October (378)
- September (415)
- August (404)
- July (380)
- June (310)
- May (370)
- April (430)
- March (484)
- February (355)
- January (378)
-
►
2015
(4588)
- December (402)
- November (392)
- October (393)
- September (375)
- August (450)
- July (392)
- June (456)
- May (407)
- April (408)
- March (374)
- February (262)
- January (277)