Karnataka reports first Covid-19 case with South African variant

Karnataka reported its first Covid-19 case with the South Africa variant 501.V2 of the SARS-CoV-2 virus on Wednesday.

Jawaid Akhtar, additional chief secretary, Health, said, “The initial report that he is from Bengaluru is wrong. The 58-year-old man is from Shivamogga. Five of his contacts are in-home quarantine. Three other contacts are in institutional quarantine with him.”

Dr Trilok Chandra, Health Commissioner, told DH, “This patient is from Shivamogga. Initially, there was a miscommunication that he’s from Bengaluru. He and his primary contacts, three in all (family members) are in institutional quarantine. They’re all asymptomatic.”

CORONAVIRUS SPECIAL COVERAGE ONLY ON DH

Dr Rajesh Suragihalli, district health officer, said, “He travelled from Dubai to Bengaluru on February 22. He then came to Shivamogga. He resides near Tipu Nagar. At present, we have identified only eight of his contacts. We are yet to do his mobile tracing. He and his family members will be shifted to McGann Hospital. We have intimated the police and our epidemiologist.”

Covid-19 patients with the SA variant have been reported from West Bengal, Surat (Gujarat) and Maharashtra. The SA strain is said to affect the younger population more.