According to CCMB or The Centre for Cellular & Molecular Biology which is a renowned research organization in the areas of modern biology, the N44OK a variant of the COVID -19 is spreading very fast in the South. This is stated to be 15 times more contagious and is spreading fast in Andhra Pradesh. It is also causing a steep rise in infections and fatalities in Telangana, Karnataka, Visakhapatnam, and other areas in the South. The same strain of the virus was discovered in certain parts of Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra.
The N44OK variant is said to spread very rapidly and is very powerful causing very serious COVID complications. It is believed to be deadlier than the original COVID Variant because a person affected with the original variant reaches the hypoxia or the dyspnoea stage within 7 days but a person who gets infected by the new deadlier variant the N44OK reaches the serious condition only in 3 – 4 days.
The rate of infection of this variant is also said to be very high. It is said that it can infect up to 4 people in a very short time. All the above have however been conjectures and hearsay. The Hyderabad-based CCMB has recently claimed that there is NO evidence of this new Andhra COVID strain being deadlier than the original one. So, this can allow a sigh of relief for most. The Director of CCMB, Rakesh Mishra has said that the presence of N440K is minimal and not even 5 percent in the state and it is disappearing and may even be replaced by the other COVID-19 strains and variants. He has gone on to clarify that there is no new Andhra Pradesh or Vishakapatnam strain that has surfaced. The chances of double mutants or new strains still exist and one must exercise all precautions to remain safe from this deadly virus.
The most effective way to combat this disease would be to maintain a well-balanced healthy life style with high immunity following all COVID protocols and norms!
