Double mutant strain of Covid detected at Dibrugarh Airport, Himanta urges people to be extremely careful

April 22: In the wake of the second wave of coronavirus, things seems to assume a scary look. Recent samples from Dibrugarh Airport are positive for B.1.617 strain or the Indian double mutant (L452R and E484Q) strain of SARS-Cov-2. Sharing this information in a tweet on Thursday, State Health Minister, Himanta Biswa Samra expressed anxiety and urged upon the people to be very very careful.

Recent samples from Dibrugarh Airport are positive for B.1.617 strain or the Indian double mutant (L452R and E484Q) strain of SARS-Cov-2.
We need to be very very careful

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) April 22, 2021

The new variant, which has a so-called double mutation, is thought to be fueling India’s deadlier new wave of cases that has made it the world’s second worst-hit country, surpassing Brazil again, and has already begun to overwhelm its hospitals and crematoriums. The new strain underscores the insidious nature of viruses and threatens to thwart containment efforts in India, despite measures such as the world’s largest lockdown last year. The new variant, called B.1.617, was initially detected in India with two mutations — the E484Q and L452R. It was first reported late last year by a scientist in India.