Colombo, Nov 2 (DailyMirror) – Sri Lanka’s health experts yesterday warned the country was still under a threat from the Delta variant, especially the Delta 28 which had originated in the country, and not from the Delta 30 which had not been detected in the world since June this year.
A leading health expert told Daily Mirror that despite comments from some ministers and officials stating that Sri Lanka should go on alert over the Delta 30, also known as the A30, which could evade the AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccine efficacy, the country did not have to worry too much about this at the moment as the A28 which has already caused havoc was still existing in the country and there was a threat it could mutate further into something more ‘nasty’.
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“Only around 5 patients have been found to have been infected with the A30 in the world and there have been no cases reported since June in any country. And rather than eyeing the airport to see if we are importing any variants, people should have their guard up within the country itself as still the Delta variant including the A28 was in existence in Sri Lanka.
While monitoring the airport is important is it also important to see how the Delta already existing in the country will mutate further,” the leading expert said.
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When contacted by the Daily Mirror, Head of the Department of Immunology and Molecular Medicine of the University of Sri Jayawardenepura. Prof. Neelika Malavige said that no cases of the A30 had been found in Sri Lanka to date.
She further said that a sample of the A28, which was a mutation of the Delta variant, had been sent to Hong Kong yesterday for further investigations.
The Delta Plus has also not been detected in Sri Lanka as yet although it has now spread in 29 countries but local experts fear that the variants already existing in Sri Lanka could mutate further causing a concern. This is why investigations on the existing variants in Sri Lanka are already underway.
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Health experts have urged people to continue practising all health guidelines by wearing tight-fitting face masks, maintaining social distance, and maintaining hand hygiene. People are urged to avoid gathering indoors and meet outdoors as much as possible.
When indoors, especially in offices, people have been requested to keep their masks on at all times and avoid leaving their homes unnecessarily.
A leading health expert told Daily Mirror that despite comments from some ministers and officials stating that Sri Lanka should go on alert over the Delta 30, also known as the A30, which could evade the AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccine efficacy, the country did not have to worry too much about this at the moment as the A28 which has already caused havoc was still existing in the country and there was a threat it could mutate further into something more ‘nasty’.
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“Only around 5 patients have been found to have been infected with the A30 in the world and there have been no cases reported since June in any country. And rather than eyeing the airport to see if we are importing any variants, people should have their guard up within the country itself as still the Delta variant including the A28 was in existence in Sri Lanka.
While monitoring the airport is important it is also important to see how the Delta already existing in the country will mutate further,” the leading expert said.
When contacted by the Daily Mirror, Head of the Department of Immunology and Molecular Medicine of the University of Sri Jayawardenepura. Prof. Neelika Malavige said that no cases of the A30 had been found in Sri Lanka to date.
She further said that a sample of the A28, which was a mutation of the Delta variant, had been sent to Hong Kong yesterday for further investigations.
The Delta Plus has also not been detected in Sri Lanka as yet although it has now spread in 29 countries but local experts fear that the variants already existing in Sri Lanka could mutate further causing a concern.
This is why investigations on the existing variants in Sri Lanka are already underway.
Health experts have urged people to continue practising all health guidelines by wearing tight-fitting face masks, maintaining social distance, and maintaining hand hygiene. People are urged to avoid gathering indoors and meet outdoors as much as possible.
When indoors, especially in offices, people have been requested to keep their masks on at all times and avoid leaving their homes unnecessarily. (Jamila Husain)
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