Health D-G: More Infectious D614G Mutation Detected In All 32 Covid-19 Viral Strains

Health Director-General, Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah took to Facebook today (25 September) to announce the latest results of tests from the Institute of Medical Research (IMR) lab.

Of the 32 Covid-19 viral strains that have been detected, all are said to contain the D614G mutation. This mutation is “found to easier infect other individuals and spread easily”, said Dr Noor Hisham in the post. These viral strains include the following clusters:

Cluster Fort LD (23 viruses)

Cluster River (1 virus)

Cluster PUI Sivagangga (4 viruses)

Cluster Tawar (3 viruses)

Cluster Bukit Tiram (1 virus)

He added that results found the Kedah clusters to most likely originate from the same viral source. “Follow-up studies were also conducted to study the genetic connection between these separated viruses to compare the previously detected ones such as in the Sivagangga and Tawar clusters. As suspected, all of these separated viruses from the Kedah clusters (Sivagangga PUI, Tawar, and Sungai clusters) were related.”

However, Dr Noor Hisham added that these were still early tests and several follow-up tests needed to be conducted to test the probability and check with the family group of the Covid-19 virus.

As the D614G mutation has already been proven to spread more easily, the public is advised to be more aware and careful while keeping in mind the SOPs that are in place.

Stay safe, guys! What do you think of this? 

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