KARACHI – Health officials in Pakistan announced that the South African andBrazilian variant of Covid-19 has been detected for the first time in thecountry, a spokesperson for the National Institute of Health (NIH)confirmed Saturday.

Mutated strains were found in samples the NIH received for testing, raisingfears that these variants with a higher mortality rate could put a strainon the country’s already overwhelmed health facilities.

Earlier, Sindh provincial health minister Dr. Azra Fazl Pechuho Friday saidthat the variants, which were more lethal than the original variant of thenovel disease have been detected in samples collected by Aga KhanUniversity Hospital (AKUH).

Speaking in a video message, Pechuho said at least 10 British, two SouthAfrican, and one Brazilian virus variants have been detected in the Sindhcapital Karachi.

Adding that the mutated variants from these countries have a highermortality rate, and the efficacy of the vaccine is not that significantagainst them. Those infected by these strains could fall critically illdespite being vaccinated.

Meanwhile, Pakistan has notified the restricted air travel to the countryaccording to which it significantly reduced international air travel fromother countries from May 4 to 20 as inbound air traffic will remain at 20percent amid a recent surge around the globe.

Source:link