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UK Alpha COVID-19 variant detected in nine areas from Sri Lanka
The COVID-19 variant (Alpha) found in the UK has been detected from nine areas in Sri Lanka, Director of the Allergy, Immunity and Cell Biology Unit at the Sri Jayewardenepura University Dr. Chandima Jeewandara said today.
Accordingly, the B.1.1.7, UK variant (Alpha) has been identified from Colombo, Batticaloa, Trincomalee, Kuliyaputiya, Wariyapola, Habaraduwa (Matara), Thissamaharama, Karapitiya, and Ragama.
Moreover, he said the Indian and Sri Lankan variants had also been detected in two areas.
"The B.1.617.2, the Indian variant of the virus (Delta) has been detected from a quarantine facility in Waskaduwa while the B.1.411, Sri Lankan lineage of COVID-19 has been reported from Thissamaharama," he underlined.
Dr Jeewandara said the relevant variants had been identified following the sequencing conducted by his team at the Sri Jayewardenepura University.
Meanwhile, Dr. Jeewandara said that healthcare workers attached to the Colombo National Hospital who were detected with the UK variant (Alpha) two weeks after receiving the second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine have recovered.
UK experts are of the opinion that the Delta coronavirus, first identified in India, is believed to be 60% more transmissible than the Alpha variant.(Sheain Fernandopulle)
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