There are over 10,000 strains of COVID-19 in the world that have
been sequenced according to the World Health Organization.
During sequencing, scientists study the genetic makeup of a particular strain.
While the disease began in China, the more it has crossed borders, new strains
have been seen according to scientists.
The strains normally depend on the country of origin of infection. According to
scientists, strains from the UK have a few genetic differences than those from
other countries like the United States.
Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, the COVID-19 Technical Lead says that the strains though
different do not behave differently to treatment or does not mean any kind of
mutation took place.
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In Uganda, the situation is not any different. According to the Uganda Virus
Institute, Uganda has more than three strains of the disease that are being
investigated.
Prof Ponsiano Kaleebu, the executive director of UVRI says that though the
strains are different, they respond to treatment in the same way.
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The impact that the strains might have on the rate of transmission of the
disease of death rates is not yet known. Dr Kerkhove says that studies are
still on-going to ascertain the impact on different strains might have on the
disease.
Research in vaccine and treatments is underway in many countries. The first
vaccine trials began last week in the UK.
To date, over 3 million cases of COVID-19 have been reported in
the world.
Pamela Mawanda
Freelancer