All India Institute of Medical Science’s (AIIMS) virology laboratory of the microbiology department, which is an apex laboratory of the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme for dengue and chikungunya, has suggested the possibility of Asian Genotype circulating in India at present , which is seen circulating in South America for the past two years.
The senior microbiologist at AIIMS told The Pioneer, “For the past two years in South America, Asian Genotype is circulating, therefore possibility for Asian Genotype circulating in India, cannot be ruled out.”
“Previously, in 2006, the strain which was seen in India was the East Central South African Genotype (ECS African strain). The other strain which has been circulating in South America for the last two years is an Asian Strain (genotype), however, chikungunya has only one serotype unlike dengue, which has four serotypes so it is expected that a person cannot get chikungunya infection more than once in their lifetime.,” he said.
“African Genotype has less possibility of a comeback in the same environment,” he said. Till date, AIIMS laboratory alone has tested nearly 3,000 blood samples of which 1,800 confirmed positive for chikungunya virus.
According to municipal corporation data released on Monday, over 2,625 chikungunya cases have been confirmed positive. The disease has claimed at least 15 lives so far in the city.