A research paper written by Chinese scientists in Wuhan has become a cause of concern as it stated that a new Coronavirus variant may mutate to harm humans. This research paper is yet to be peer-reviewed.
This NeoCov strain was found in some bats from South Africa. In the light of this recent reservation the Indian council of Medical Research’s Head of Epidemiology and Communicable Diseases, Dr Samiran Panda, said, “It has been reported from China. India is keeping an eye on this. It is too early to comment on how much of a real threat it poses for India or the world. Every country is keeping an eye on it,”.
The Chinese scientists in Wuhan (the epicentre of Covid 19 pandemic) are concerned that this new Covid 19 variant might mutate to harm humans because Coronaviruses are a rather large family of viruses. They can cause diseases ranging from common cold to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome. They also highlighted the possibility that the new variant, NeoCov could spread using a similar technique used by Covid-19-causing SARS-CoV-2 with a higher transmission rate. According to some reports, NeoCov is not a new variant, in-fact it was discovered much earlier.
Currently, not much is known about this new variant as it is was researched very recently and is awaiting peer review. The World Health Organisation has also said that the NeoCov coronavirus requires further study.
