REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA – An epidemiology expert from the Faculty of Public Health (FKM) Universitas Airlangga (Unair), Laura Navika Yamani, said that Indonesia must increase the samples of the Covid-19 virus being studied to see if there are mutations. According to him, linkage viral mutation with the power of contagion requires a more in-depth analysis.
“Is there a connection with, for example, an increasing spread. Or a higher infectivity. Then it is related to the severity of the disease or the cause of death, I think there is still very little data for that direction,” said Laura, contacted Republika.co.id, Friday (23/4).
The number of samples analyzed whole genome in Indonesia, according to Laura, there are still too few conclusions about mutations. Even with the current number of samples analyzed, it would be very difficult to get a correlation of viral mutations.
“The conclusion that will be drawn later is also related to the number of samples analyzed. So if that is analyzed to get whole genome this little yes automatic conclusions can not be drawn, “he said again.
Laura explained, every time the virus found host human he will reproduce. In this reproduction, mutations can occur in the virus. This is what the government must continue to monitor.
He gave an example, in England before concluding there was a virus mutation, it was necessary to carry out a deep investigation. Initially, researchers in Britain began to feel suspicious when the spread of Covid-19 suddenly became higher than usual.
“So he started to be suspicious until he finally dared to reveal that the high prevalence in the UK was linked to mutations, this is the investigation not live. So, seeing whether the percentage of people with this mutation is high, then it is associated with the trend that at that time there was a significant increase in the UK, “he said.
According to Laura, the government must continue to monitor Covid-19 conditions that are different from usual. This means that when there is an area where suddenly many people have to be treated, even though previously there were more asymptomatic ones, then this must be suspected.
These unusual conditions may be caused by a virus that has mutated. “Or before there was no high spread, but suddenly the spread was high. Then the number of daily cases increased. This should also be suspected,” said Laura.
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