Malaysia has detected its first case of a extremely infectious coronavirus variant first recognized in India, Health Minister Adham Baba mentioned on Sunday, days after imposing a ban on flights from India.
The variant, named B.1.617, was detected in an Indian nationwide screened on the Kuala Lumpur International Airport, he mentioned.
The World Health Organisation has described it as a “variant of curiosity”, suggesting it may have mutations that would make the virus more transmissible, cause more severe disease or evade vaccine immunity.
“We advise the public to remain calm… All public health efforts will continue in order to break the chain of infection and ensure public safety,” Adham mentioned.
He didn’t say when the variant was detected.
Malaysia, which is dealing with a surge in Covid-19 circumstances, on Wednesday banned flights to and from India and prohibited travellers from any Indian vacation spot from coming into the nation to stop the unfold of the brand new variant.
India is battling a devastating second wave of the coronavirus that has overwhelmed hospitals, morgues and crematoriums.
Malaysia in February launched a nationwide Covid-19 vaccination programme, aiming to inoculate 80% of its 32 million individuals inside a 12 months.
The Southeast Asian nation reported 3,418 new coronavirus circumstances on Sunday, bringing its whole quantity of infections to 415,012 circumstances, together with greater than 1,500 deaths.
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