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As Indonesia detects India and South Africa variants, fears grow over possible case spikes
Indonesia has detected coronavirus variants linked to more transmissible variants first detected in India and South Africa, ahead of the Idul Fitri exodus when mobility is expected to rise.
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Passengers of a ship from Dumai, Riau line up to get their travel documents checked at the arrival terminal of Sekupang Port, Batam, Riau Islands on April 21, 2021. A ban on this year's Idul Fitri 'mudik' (exodus) has forced some people to travel home early for the Islamic holiday, slated for May 12 or 13. (Antara/Teguh Prihatna)
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ndonesia has detected coronavirus variants linked to more transmissible variants first detected in India and South Africa, ahead of the Idul Fitri mudik (exodus) season when mobility is expected to rise, prompting concerns of a possible case resurgence as seen in other countries.
Data from Germany-based GISAID database, which was created to track genetic data on influenza viruses, showed Indonesia had detected a case each of B16172 and B16173, which are related to the B1617 variant first detected in India containing slightly different mutations. Indonesia recently also reported a case of the B1351 variant first detected in South Africa and three new cases of B117, another concerning variant first detected in the United Kingdom, making a total of 13 UK variant cases so far.
The Indian variant cases were detected in Jakarta with samples collected in early and late April, before Indonesia banned travelers from the virus-stricken country on April 25. Meanwhile, the South African variant case was sampled back in January.
Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin has confirmed these findings but he did not specify whether they were imported cases. He previously revealed that some of the UK variant cases were locally transmitted.
"These mutations are categorized as variants of concern by the [World Health Organization] because they have relatively higher transmission rates,” Budi told a virtual press briefing on Monday.
“We have to guard it now when there are still a few cases, because they will certainly spread soon as their transmission rate is relatively higher.”
Read also: Indonesia detects more contagious British virus variant. What now?
