KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia has detected 14 local Covid-19 cases with the South African variant B.1.351 and one imported case with the Indian variant B.1.617.2.
The cases were recorded after a genomics survey carried out by the Medical Research Institute on 33 Covid-19 samples between May 3 and 10.
In a statement today, Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the South African variant cases were detected in Kelantan, Kedah, Selangor, and Negri Sembilan while the imported case with the Indian variant has died.
“Currently, there are a total of 62 cases with the South African variant B.1.351 and two infections with the Indian variant B.1.617 – one each with the sublineage B.1.617.1 and B.1.617.2.”
He said the one case of the Indian variant of interest B.1.617.2 was brought in by a traveller to Malaysia on April 7, who tested for Covid-19 at the international arrival gate.
However, the traveller tested negative on April 7 and 12, and was only found positive on April 21 when the individual was rushed to the emergency and trauma unit after showing serious Covid-19 symptoms.
The victim’s condition continued to decline and died on May 1. – The Vibes, May 12, 2021
