Srinagar, Dec 29: Stating that SARS-CoV-2 might be much ‘aggressive’ and spread more rapidly between people in Jammu and Kashmir, a senior medico at the valley’s top tertiary care hospital SKIMS Soura Tuesday advised people to follow SOPs properly to avoid falling prey to ‘mutated’ virus.

Medical Superintendent SKIMS Soura, Dr Farooq Jan said 40 percent antibody response and vaccine efficacy can also contain the variant which is referred to as SARS-CoV-2.

He said there is no firsthand information about the mutated virus available at the moment but the positivity rate of the new strain might be much higher than its older version (COVID-19).

“We really don’t have any firsthand information about this new strain, the positivity rate of Mutated Virus is high and it can be much aggressive as well. But with 40 percent antibody response and effective vaccination we can resist the disease,” MS SKIMS added.

It is pertinent to mention that India recorded the first six cases of mutant Corona-Virus strain after six persons, who returned from the United Kingdom (UK) were tested positive.

Dr Jan also said the positivity rate of COVID-19 has reduced in Jammu and Kashmir while a significant drop of patients admitted with deadly disease has been witnessed in hospitals over the past few months.

He said the SKIMS administration is fully prepared to tackle any eventuality and advised people to follow Standard Operating Procedure SOPs like wearing face masks, maintaining social distance to avoid falling prey to the variant called SARS-CoV-2.

“We are fully prepared for any eventuality, I hope this disease will not visit the valley and in case it happens, we will do our best to contain the same until some vaccine is introduced,” Dr Jan said—(KNO)