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DailyOh! WHO's concern over Indian Covid variant, to what blood groups are vulnerable

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Rajeshwari Ganesan
Rajeshwari GanesanMay 11, 2021 | 18:52

DailyOh! WHO's concern over Indian Covid variant, to what blood groups are vulnerable

Research shows that people with AB blood group are most vulnerable to Covid-19, closely followed by blood group B. The O group people showed the lowest seropositivity.

The times are bad enough with the physical, financial and emotional agony that the pandemic has bestowed upon us. We have brought you stories of hope when people stand up for one another in such times. However, the world is not black and white.

We open with one such case that has come to light from Bhagalpur in Bihar. In a heart-wrenching video going viral on social media, a young woman had to battle medical negligence along with sexual harassment by the hospital staff as she tried to keep her Covid-positive husband alive. As she moved her husband from hospital to hospital, all she found was deep apathy and hospital staff colluding with black marketeers to sell oxygen at sky-high prices.

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She braved it all for her ailing husband. Despite it all, the man died. She has now appealed to people to not trust the healthcare system.

In the 24 hours ending Tuesday morning, India saw 3.29 lakh fresh Covid cases and over 3,800 deaths. Karnataka has replaced Maharashtra and topped the ignominious list of states with the highest number of cases. Karnataka saw 39,305 cases, followed by Maharashtra with 37,236 cases.

As India battles evils ranging from the virus to inhumanity, World Health Organization (WHO) has added to the woes. WHO has termed the Indian strain of Covid-19 as a “variant of concern.” This variant has wreaked havoc here and is also spreading to over 17 countries.

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WHO has termed the Indian strain of Covid-19 as a “variant of concern.” (Photo: Associated Press)

Our Word Of The Dayvariant traces its roots to the Latin word variō, which means “to change”. The Cambridge dictionary defines variants as “something that is slightly different from other similar things”. It is the same coronavirus, but the Indian strain is a variant and that is a cause of concern.

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The Indian strain is termed B.1.617 variant of Covid-19. It was first found in India last October and seems to be transmitting more easily than the original version of the virus. The health body further suspects this strain might have increased resistance to vaccines. It is now a “variant of concern” along with three other such concerning variants — from Britain, Brazil and South Africa.

How to deal with it from spreading? According to American medical expert Anthony Fauci, India must go into complete lockdown again and vaccinate the entire population.

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India must go into complete lockdown again, says American medical expert Anthony Fauci. (Photo: Reuters)

Fauci’s words seem to have rung a bell with the Telangana government, who have announced a 10-day lockdown from May 12. However, all activities will be allowed from 6 am to 10 am. So how is that a successful lockdown? We will know when we know.

But at the current rate of vaccination, India may take three and a half years to reach herd immunity, say experts. Meanwhile, the state recording the second-largest number of cases has halted the Covaxin jab for the 18-44 age group. The Maharashtra government will instead divert those three lakh vials for those aged 45 years and above. The state has only 35,000 vials of Covaxin left for administering the second dose for the above 45 years category.

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The neighbouring state of Goa, however, has decided to administer the antiparasitic drug Ivermectin to all above 18, irrespective of their coronavirus status. This, according to the state health minister, is to bring down mortality.

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But governments need to be seen doing something, and they are doing just that. Trying to protect the vulnerable. However, who is the most vulnerable to Covid-19? The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has published a research paper that shows that people with AB blood group recorded the highest number of infections, closely followed by the B blood group. The O group people showed the lowest seropositivity.

There are four main blood groups — A, B, AB and O. Your blood group is determined by the genes that you inherit from your parents. More than 99 per cent of the world’s population falls under these groups.

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CSIR research says that people with AB and B blood group are more susceptible to Covid-19.

However, did you know that there is one very rare blood type that is present in only about 0.0004 per cent of the human population? That is, four in a million people will have it. This rarity is home-grown. By that, we mean this group is called the Bombay blood group. Why Bombay? Because it was first discovered in Mumbai (then Bombay) by Dr YM Bhende in 1952. Not that it is not found in people anywhere else — it has also been observed in people of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and Iranian descent. However, the incidence of it being found in India is higher — ranging between one in 7,600 to 10,000 people. About 0.01 per cent.

What makes it so rare? To put it simply, each red blood cell has an antigen over its surface. This antigen helps determine what group it belongs to. For instance, group A will have A antigens, B will have B antigens, and AB will have both antigens, A and B. Group O has neither antigens. However, one thing they all have is the H substance, which is a precursor to all antigens. The red blood cells of the Bombay group (also called HH) lack this antigen H. It is often confused with O because the absence of A or B antigens automatically gets classified as O. But if you transfuse O blood (or A, B or AB) to a Bombay group patient, his or her blood will coagulate or clump up. So Bombay will only match with Bombay.

But here is something that will match interests for most: Gal Gadot-starrer Wonder Woman 1984 will start streaming on Amazon Prime Video on May 15. That is something to look forward to over the weekend that will help you sail through the week.

If you need more to chill, feel free to try our recommended smoothie of green apples, pears, spinach and celery. It will cool you down as you brave the heat and boost your immunity as you brave the virus.

Have the smoothie, chill and step out only if you absolutely must. And when you do, wear the mask.

We will be back tomorrow.

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Last updated: May 11, 2021 | 18:52
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