India has reported 4 cases of South Africa variant and one Brazil variant strain of Coronavirus.
“In India, the South Africa strain has been detected in four different South Africa returnees, one from Tanzania, one from Angola and two from South Africa in January 2021. One brazil returnee has tested positive for Brazil variant of coronavirus,” said Dr. Balram Bhargava, Director General of India Council of Medical Research.
“All the returnees have been quarantined. ICMR-NIV Pune is attempting to isolate and culture the South African variant strain from the samples of these four returnees,” he added.
Dr. Balram Bhargava said that the Brazil variant has been successfully isolated and cultured at ICMR-NIV Pune.
The South African variant first emerged independently in South Africa in mid-December, 2020 and it has spread to 44 countries. Brazil variant of Coronavirus emerged independently in Brazil in early January, 2021.
