PANAJI: Even as the Delta-plus variant of Covid-19 has been detected in the neighboring Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra, Goa continues to be in the dark about whether it has entered the state.
Results of 89 samples sent for genome sequencing to a laboratory in Pune are still awaited.
“Delta-plus has not been diagnosed in Goa yet, though reports of the samples sent over the last one-and-a-half month are awaited,” state epidemiologist Dr Utkarsh Betodkar told TOI on Monday.
Over the last few months, 122 samples were sent for genome sequencing, and 33 test results have been received so far, of which 26 were detected as being of the Delta variant.
Kappa, another Maharashtra strain, was detected in six samples, and alpha was found in a single sample, Betodkar said.
Looking at the results so far, 79% were delta variants.
The spike seen in Goa over the last two months was largely caused by the Delta variant.
“Scientific data available shows that it is significantly more transferable.
It spread from Maharashtra to other states, Goa included, expeditiously,” he said.
“That’s the capacity of a respiratory virus.
If it was any other virus, maybe a gastro virus, it would not have spread as fast as a respiratory virus.
Now that we know that the Delta variant was responsible for the second wave, a lot of our population is immune to that variant.
The Delta variant will possibly not cause another wave in Goa.
Or even if it gives rise to another wave, it will be small,” he said.
The problem, Betodkar said, would arise if there’s a new mutant strain.
“Nothing much is known about the Delta-plus so far, and it is still under study.
A lot will depend upon the character of the delta-plus strain.
If it is completely different from Delta, there will be a problem.
But if it is more like Delta, we have less to worry about.
If that’s the case, then we probably will have a small wave.
But we need to wait for some time to understand what exactly it is.” As per the strategy of the government of India, he said that the National Centre for Cell Science (NCCS), Pune, has been designated as the regional genomic sequencing laboratory.
“Every 15 days, we have to send 15 samples from every institute for genome sequencing.
Very soon, samples from the South Goa district hospital as well as the sub-district hospital, Ponda, will be sent,” he said.
Currently, samples for sequencing are sent from GMC, North Goa district hospital and a private hospital in South Goa that conducts conventional RT-PCR tests for the past two months.
Earlier, samples were sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, but stopped due to the inordinate delays in receiving results.
Dr Eugene D’Souza, a senior consultant pathologist, said that when test results of samples of genome sequencing are received a month later, it is of less relevance to strategise effective public health measures.
However, efforts are underway to increase the percentage of samples tested for genome sequencing.
“Goa needs to consider setting up its own genomic sequencing lab to increase the percentage of positive cases screened, with faster results to detect new mutants as Goa is a tourist hub.
News of a third wave with emerging variants like Delta+ with evidence of higher transmissibility and immune escape, demands (us to) re-strategise responses,” said D’Souza.
The proposed independent virology laboratory at GMC will take another month to become functional, a health official said.
In April, health minister Vishwajit Rane had announced that since the NIV did not return sample results in time, the state would have its own facility.
“Civil work of the proposed laboratory has been completed.
Once we complete the biosafety process, which might take a month or a little more, we will be able to make it functional,” a GMC official said.
He disclosed that GMC recently tied up with a laboratory in Hyderabad, where alumnus Dr Ashwin Dalal works, and has offered to do free genome sequencing for the premier healthcare facility.
“We will send samples there shortly,” the official added.