State govt to conduct study on new strain of Covid 19; report to be submitted in three months

KOZHIKODE: State has started the second phase of study on the new strain of Covid 19. The study was undertaken jointly by Delhi based CSIR (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research) and Kozhikode Medical College. The first phase of the study conducted by them was based on the origin and spread of the virus.

In the first phase of the study which was conducted in different districts in the Malabar region, it was discovered that the genetic structure of the virus was capable of high rate of transmission. The genetic structure of the virus was decoded in 170 out of the 200 samples collected for the study.

In the second phase of the study, it would be examined whether the virus has undergone changes in its genetic structure. The second phase of the study was decided to be conducted as a new variant of the virus was reported from different parts of the world. The second phase of the study will be conducted in all districts of Kerala. The study will be undertaken in the period between January to March.