India has successfully cultured the new viral strain UK-variant of SARS-CoV-2. No country has yet reported successful isolation and culture of the U.K. variant of SARS-CoV-2.
Indian Council of Medical Research, ICMR said, SARS-CoV-2 the virus causing Covid-19 was tracked through countrywide network of ICMR laboratories since early days of epidemic in India.
The ICMR said, UK-variant of the virus with all signature changes is now successfully isolated and cultured at the National Institute of Virology, NIV from the clinical specimens collected from UK-returnees.
ICMR said, Vero cell lines were used by the Scientists of ICMR-NIV to culture the UK variant of the virus. 29 cases of the new strain have been detected in the country so far.
