KUALA LUMPUR – The Health Ministry (MoH) has detected the country’s first case of the more infectious Covid-19 variant that was first detected in the United Kingdom.
Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the ministry has found the UK B.1.1.7 variant, also known as the protein spike mutation 202012/01 today.
In a Facebook post, he said the case was reported from an individual with travel history to the UK in December 2020. The traveller was found positive on December 29 and was then isolated for further treatment.
Noor Hisham said that since October MoH has monitored all travellers arriving from countries that reported the UK B.1.1.7 variant, including the UK, the Netherlands, Singapore, Turkey, the Philippines and India.
Health experts have noted that the UK strain is estimated to be between 60% and 70% more transmissible than other Covid-19 variants.
Dr. Noor Hisham also said that some 68 samples have been tested since October, along with “genome sequencing” to trace the UK strain from 24 samples.
However, prior to today there were no other detected infections in the country that showed the mutated virus.
“The ministry though the Institute of Medical Research (IMR) and the Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre will continue to monitor the developments of the UK B.1.1.7 and will inform (of updates) from time to time.
“Although the UK B.1.1.7 does not cause severe symptoms, it can spread easily and swiftly.
“The public is advised to always practice self-hygiene and always wash their hands, wear face masks, especially in public places, and maintain physical distancing at all times,” he said. – The Vibes, January 11, 2021
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