NEW DELHI — India has recorded the world’s sharpest spike in coronavirus infections this month, with more than 366,000 new daily cases reported on Monday. Scientists are studying what led to the unexpected surge, and particularly whether a variant of the novel coronavirus first detected in India is to blame.
The variant, named B.1.617, has been reported in at least 17 countries, raising global concern.
Here are the basics:
Two key mutations
The B.1.617 variant contains two key mutations to the outer “spike” portion of the virus that attaches to human cells, said senior Indian virologist Shahid Jameel. The World Health Organization (WHO) said the predominant lineage of B.1.617 w…
Keep on reading: COVID-19 India variant: What scientists know so far amid crisis in subcontinent