Surabaya, CNN Indonesia —
Peneliti Institute of Tropical Disease (ITD) Airlangga University (Unair) Surabaya found a variant of the corona virus (Covid-19) B117 from sample specimens from Bangkalan residents, East Java. The mutation by the WHO is called an alpha variant.
This was revealed by the Immunology Expert at Airlangga University (Unair) Dr. Agung Dwi Wahyu Widodo. He knew about it from the presentation of the Director of ITD Unair, Maria Inge Lusia.
“So one of the results we can get is that there is one patient being treated who came from Bangkalan whose swab showed he was infected with the UK variant B117 or by WHO now called the alpha variant,” Agung said when confirmed, Tuesday (8/6) .
Agung said that this mutation of the corona virus had a higher transmission rate, around 40 to 90 percent compared to the first type of virus that was transmitted.
The B117 variant mutation is currently the most reported by people from different countries. WHO noted an increase in cases of up to 49 percent of the alpha variant circulating in Southeast Asia.
“This shows that if an area is identified with this variant, according to WHO, we must be prepared to get it [kenaikan] fast case,” he said.
In the UK alone, said Agung, this alpha variant is able to increase transmission by 40 percent to 90 percent in a short time.
“In America doubling timeher in 10 days. Cases from 100 to 200 within 10 days,” he said.
According to Agung, because the transmission rate is very fast, the government must immediately prepare additional isolation facilities to hospitalization.
“I also get reports, often patients who are exposed to this virus, less than two days have died, very quickly,” he said.
Furthermore, Agung also asked the public to increase their vigilance and discipline in implementing the Covid-19 prevention health protocol. According to him, the virus we are facing today is different from before.
“This virus is not a virus from yesterday, it is a new virus which in layman’s language is said to be malignant and causes severe conditions and does not close itself to causing reinfection in patients who have been exposed to Covid-19,” he said.
Covid-19 cases in Bangkalan Regency, East Java have increased dramatically in recent days. Even the East Java Regional Police blocked the Suramadu Bridge from Surabaya to check on residents who were passing by.
As many as 25 of the 30 Covid-19 patients from Bangkalan who were referred to the Indrapura Field Hospital (RSLI) Surabaya, East Java, are suspected of having a new type of variant.
This was stated by the Chief Executive of the RSLI Covid-19 Patient Family Assistance Program, Radian Jadid. The suspicion arose because of the rapid transmission and high mortality rate in Bangkalan.
“In general, given the speed of transmission, the high mortality rate, their condition should be suspected of being infected with a new variant,” he said when confirmed CNNIndonesia.com, Tuesday (8/6).
(frd / fra)
– .
