'Double mutant': India reports COVID-19 new strain

A new and potentially dangerous strain of the COVID-19, dubbed a 'double mutant', has been discovered in India, as well as strains first discovered in the UK, South Africa, and Brazil.

According to The Guardian.com, epidemiologists note that the new strain has the characteristics of two already known variants of the virus, which is why it is called a 'double mutant.'

The genetic changes in the virus can be troubling because they can make the virus spread more easily and elude the immune system, the specialist said.

The virus mutated throughout the entire pandemic. Most of the mutations are trivial, but scientists are studying which ones could make the virus spread more easily or make people worse.

Three strains, first identified in South Africa, the United Kingdom and Brazil, are considered the most worrisome and have been identified as options of concern. These three strains have been found in 7% of nearly 11,000 samples sequenced in India since December 30. The most common of these was the most contagious variant found in the UK last year.

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