Mutant chikungunya virus detected

[Gert van der Hoek]

Mutant chikungunya virus detected

Friday August 24 2007 14:47 IST

T?PURAM: The Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB) has identified a mutant chikungunya virus in one of the several blood samples collected by the institute.

The finding assumes significance as the change in the gene sequence is very similar to the mutation that had occurred in the Reunion Islands.

It is widely believed that it was this mutation that caused the chikungunya epidemic at Reunion Islands to become large-scale and widespread.

This mutation has not been previously reported in the country and further studies are on to analyse this mutation. RGCB is also trying to develop a vaccine for the disease.

?At present, there is no management protocol for the mutant virus. The only possible management practice is to control the vectors,? said RGCB director Radhakrishna Pillai.

A statement from the RGCB issued here on Thursday also cautioned that public health interpretations of any kind based on this one finding.

http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItem...42535&Page=O&Title=Thiruvananthapuram&Topic=0

 

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: Mutant chikungunya virus detected

Chikungunya virus with deviant genetic profile detected in Lakshadweep

S. Vijay Kumar

MADURAI: The Centre for Research in Medical Entomology (CRME), a premier laboratory of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), here has detected an unusual virus that caused chikungunya in the Lakshadweep islands during 2006-07.

The CRME has alerted the Lakshadweep health authorities to take steps to protect the people there from getting affected and also prevent mosquitoes from proliferating further.

Confirming this to The Hindu on Tuesday, B.K. Tyagi, Director (in-charge) of CRME, said that a team of scientists that conducted detailed investigation on mosquito samples collected from Lakshadweep concluded that the virus had R 20;deviant” genetic profile compared to the Central East African virus that spread chikungunya in Tamil Nadu last year.

“Every possible step should be taken to prevent the breeding of mosquitoes carrying this virus. The immunity against the deviant virus in humans is being studied. Investigations are on to ascertain whether this virus caused the outbreak of chikungunya in Kerala in May/June this year,” he said.

Soon after reports of chikungunya came in from Lakshadweep, scientists attached to the CRME, the National Institute of Communicable Diseases, New Delhi, and the National Vector-borne Disease Control Programme rushed to the islands to conduct field investigations.

“Discovery of this virus is an eye-opener in the sense that its propagation to the mainland can now be prevented. The virus is possibly trying to change its identity by genetically recombining with an existing strain [variety].”

Asked what would be the impact of the deviant virus on humans, Dr. Tyagi said it could prolong joint pain or cause intense fever.

The suspicion that this virus might have prevailed in Kerala was supported by the volume of suspected cases reported.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/08/22/stories/2007082254691400.htm

 

[HenryN]

Re: Mutant chikungunya virus detected

Chikungunya virus with deviant genetic profile detected in Lakshadweep

S. Vijay Kumar



?Discovery of this virus is an eye-opener in the sense that its propagation to the mainland can now be prevented. The virus is possibly trying to change its identity by genetically recombining with an existing strain [variety].?


http://www.hindu.com/2007/08/22/stories/2007082254691400.htm

In influenza, "eye opening" is long overdue.