As Malaysia continues to ride its third wave of coronavirus, it seems that every day we’re learning something alarming, which only makes us more wary of the situation.
Yesterday (October 15th), the Health Ministry (MOH) revealed that a total of 604 individuals infected with COVID-19 from Sabah may be carrying the more aggressive D614G mutation.
Director-General Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said a genome sequencing study on 20 COVID-19 viruses from the ‘Benteng Cluster’ in Lahad Datu, Sabah, detected the presence of the mutation.
He added that the mutation is different from the clusters in Kedah, and it could have come from the Philippines or Indonesia.
You may not remember this, but this isn’t Malaysia’s first bout with the D614G strain of coronavirus…
Back in August, the Ministry was quick to isolate COVID-19 patients and individuals who were exposed to the positive cases, but they then tested negative, and thus successfully preventing the spread of the D614G mutation.
At the time, Dr Noor Hisham revealed that this strain is almost 10 times more infectious than the usual coronavirus.
“The research that has been conducted in the laboratory shows a spike protein mutation, or if we look at the surface of the virus, there are thorn-like features. Mutation occurs in the protein contained in the thorns.
“There are high chances that the quick spread might have been caused by the mutated virus and the people who were exposed to the virus did not follow the SOPs,” he explained.
It’s unclear just how bad the current situation with the D614G mutation is, which is why it’s imperative that we take extra caution.
In the meantime, Dr Noor Hisham said the Ministry will rebuild the temporary hospital at the Malaysia Agricultural Expo Park Serdang (MAEPS), if the number of COVID-19 infections continues to increase in Selangor.
Stay safe, people!
