Northeast India’s Only English and Hindi Satellite News Channel

Non-judicious use of therapies for COVID-19 leads to virus mutations: ICMR chief

First Published: 29th December, 2020 22:12 IST

Non-judicious use of therapies that have not been established for COVID-19 treatment are responsible for putting “immune pressure on virus” and leads to virus mutations, ICMR Director-General Dr Balram Bhargava

Non-judicious use of therapies that have not been established for COVID-19 treatment are responsible for putting “immune pressure on virus” and leads to virus mutations, ICMR Director-General Dr Balram Bhargava said on Tuesday.

“Those therapies which are being touted as ‘anti-viral’ or ‘anti-COVID therapies’ and they have do not have benefits established in a scientific research paper, those therapies should not be used as they will put tremendous immune pressure on the virus and it will tend to mutate more, Dr Bhargava told ANI.

Speaking in the context of UK COVID virus strain mutation, Dr Bhargava said genetic mutations occur in respiratory viruses but higher transmissibility is a point of concern.

“Genetic mutations occur in the respiratory viruses and these minor drifts may occur from time to time but once several drifts occur it has higher transmissibility rate as it happened in the United Kingdom. So that is a point of concern although we are testing in India for virus variants regularly.”

He said immune pressure on the virus may be related to the environment and is more related to the treatment, or other modalities which cause this immune pressure on the virus.

“So it is important for our scientific community also that we do not put too much immune pressure on the virus and we have to maintain the judicious use of therapies which are going to benefit. If the benefit is not established, we should not use those therapies. Otherwise, they will put tremendous immune pressure on the virus and it will tend to mutate more,” he said, noting that well-established therapies should be used. He said the experts will be looking at data.

“The vaccines that are the front-runners are targeting the S- protein and also targeting the M- RNA but we find that they will continue to be effective. We have to be very careful to look for any immunity breakthrough that may happen by vaccination,” he said. (ANI)

COMMENTS

WE RECOMMEND

Banner
“Always been glorious right-wing personality”: Kangana Ranaut opens up on donning a hat of politician

Kangana Ranaut on Wednesday opened about her new role as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from Himachal Pradesh's Mandi for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections

28th March 2024
Banner
About 80,000 leaders, workers from different parties join BJP ahead of Lok Sabha elections

According to party sources, this committee has successfully brought in approximately 80,000 leaders and workers from different parties across the country into the BJP

28th March 2024
Banner
No interim relief to Kejriwal on plea challenging arrest, BJP hits out at AAP leader

The plea stated that the petitioner has been "illegally and arbitrarily arrested" by ED in the evening of March 21.

28th March 2024
Banner
Indigo plane grazes past Air India Express plane, narrow escape for passengers in Kolkata

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has off-rostered both the IndiGo A320 VT-ISS pilots and ordered a detailed probe

27th March 2024
Banner
Bigg Boss winner Munawar Faruqui among 14 detained in raid on Mumbai hookah bar

According to Mumbai Police, a case was registered against Faruqi and 13 more people. Faruqui was later let off after the case was lodged.

27th March 2024