Mathura woman contracts a South African strain of COVID-19
A Mathura village woman was on Friday found to have been infected earlier this month with a South African strain of COVID-19, while two district health workers have contracted the disease despite having been given both shots of anti-COVID-19 vaccine. Dr. Bhudeo Singh, in-charge of Mathura's anti-Covid Rapid Response Team, said, "The woman's test sample was found to be having South-African strain of COVID-19."
A government laboratory in Lucknow did the genome sequencing
"The South African strain of COVID-19 virus contracted by the woman was detected during its genome sequencing by a government laboratory in Lucknow," Dr. Singh said. "The woman was first tested COVID-19-positive on March 3 by Deen Dayal Veterinary University which first tested her sample. But following some doubts, it was sent to Lucknow for a re-test," he said.
Woman has been put in home quarantine
"The woman was put in home quarantine after testing positive for the infection and since March 3, she had also completed her quarantine period," Dr. Singh said. But after the discovery that the virus she contracted was of South African strain, she has again been put in home quarantine and is being administered preventive medicines.
Intensive tests will be conducted in the entire village
"Following the discovery of a person having contracted the South African strain of the virus, the Mathura district administration has decided to conduct intensive tests in the entire village to which the woman belongs," Dr. Singh said.
Staffers of a Mathura dharamshala will also be tested
"The staffers of a dharamshala in Mathura where the woman had stayed earlier too would also be subjected to tests," he added. About the health workers who have contracted the disease despite having been fully inoculated, Dr. Singh said the two workers, aged 51 and 41 years respectively, have been quarantined.
