LUCKNOW: The two samples in which the Kappa variant of novel coronavirus has been detected by the King George’s Medical University (KGMU) are of teenagers from Lucknow’s rural areas, reliable sources in the university told TOI on Saturday.
However, experts said there is nothing to get alarmed as Kappa variant is no longer dominant. It is the predecessor of Delta that was declared a variant of concern after it played havoc during the second wave of the pandemic in April and May this year.
Kappa variant is less lethal than Delta and Delta Plus but its detection will help authorities in devising future strategy to check its spread and possibilities of mutation.
At least 109 samples were sent to the KGMU for genome sequencing in May. Of these, 107 were of Delta and two of Kappa variant. These two cases are of a 13-year-old boy from Kakori and a 14-year-old girl from Mall, highly placed sources in the university confirmed. Both the teens have been tested negative and are said to be fine.
Earlier, Kappa variant was found in the sample of a 13-year-old Covid-19 positive girl from Sant Kabir Nagar. Besides, Delta Plus strain has been detected in two patients hailing from Gorakhpur and Deoria, respectively. Officials said Delta Plus needs to be watched carefully.
Former head of microbiology department at IMS, BHU, Prof Anil Kumar Gulati said, “There is nothing to panic as the treatment protocol is the same in all variants.”
