UK COVID strain found in Sri Lanka - Dr. Chandima Jeewandara

Colombo (News 1st); The COVID-19 variant spreading in the UK was detected from samples obtained in Colombo, Awissawella, Vavuniya & Biyagama, said Dr. Chandima Jeewandara, the Director of the Department of Immunology and Molecular Medicine of the University of Sri Jayawardenapura. Speaking to News 1st he said 92 samples obtained in January and February were subject to a sequencing process and these samples were from Colombo, Awissawella, Ingiriya, Biyagama, Wattala, Mathugama, Mannar, and Vavuniya and from those who returned from overseas. A majority of these samples were from the Sri Lanka lineage code-named B.1.411, he said adding, however, some were detected to belong to the B.1.1.7 UK lineage. These samples were obtained from those in the community, he added.