Malaysia has detected its first case of the highly infectious coronavirus variant first identified in India. The Malaysian Health Minister Adham Baba stated that the variant, named B.1.617, was detected in an Indian national screened at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport.
Malaysia, which is facing a surge in Covid-19 cases, has already banned flights to and from India and prohibited travelers from any Indian destination from entering the country to prevent the spread of the new variant.
The World Health Organization has described the new variant as a “variant of interest,” suggesting it may have mutations that would make the virus more transmissible, cause more severe disease or evade vaccine immunity.
Malaysia, which is facing a surge in Covid-19 cases, has already banned flights to and from India and prohibited travelers from any Indian destination from entering the country to prevent the spread of the new variant.
The World Health Organization has described the new variant as a “variant of interest,” suggesting it may have mutations that would make the virus more transmissible, cause more severe disease or evade vaccine immunity.
