Merdeka.com – The chairman of the Advisory Board of the Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI), Prof. Zubairi Djoerban, explained the characteristics of the Kappa Covid-19 variant or B.1.617.1. This derivative variant of Delta or B16172 was first detected in India.
Prof. Zubairi said that the Kappa variant spreads quickly. However, the transmission speed is below the Delta variant. The transmission capability of the Kappa variant is equivalent to that of the B117 or Alpha.
“Transmitting fast like Alpha (variant) but below Delta’s transmission capability,” he said via Twitter account @ProfesorZubairi, Monday (5/7).
Prof Zubairi then categorizes the Covid-19 variant into two. Namely, Variants of Interest (VoI) and Variants of Concern (VoC). The Covid-19 variants that fall into the VoI category are Eta, Epsilon, Theta, Kappa. While VoC namely Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta.
The Ministry of Health reported having found two cases of the Kappa variant. The two cases were detected in DKI Jakarta and South Sumatra.
Director of Prevention and Control of Direct Infectious Diseases at the Ministry of Health, Siti Nadia Tarmizi said the characteristics of the Kappa variant were not too contagious when compared to variants such as Delta.
“This is not as contagious as the Delta variant,” said Nadia when confirmed by merdeka.com, Friday (2/7). [fik]
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