Covi variant prevalence of B.1.617.1, B.1.617 in Singapore and other countries

 Report by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

Image courtesy : Health 1+1 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zcq8OoSXOSA)

According to Health 1+1, the SARS-CoV-2 (covi, CCP virus, novel coronavirus) variant prevalence of B.1617.1 in Singapore on 28 April 2021 is 2%. 

According to outbreak.info, the prevalence of covi variant B.1.617.1 in Singapore as of 4 May 2021 has increased to 10%. This percentage is based on the lineage of 49 covid patients in Singapore between 26 February and 25 April 2021. 

The prevalence of B.1617 in Singapore is 8% as of 25 April 2021.

There is no B.1.618 in Singapore on 28 April 2021 but it is cause for concern as the epidemic surges.

While India has the highest prevalence of B.1.617.1 at 6%, Bahrain and Guadeloupe rank second and third in the prevalence of this covi variant.

Singapore should consider stopping Gulf Air flights from Bahrain to avoid any spillover of the mutant covi virus B.1.617.1 from the Middle East country. Gulf Air's Dreamliner lands in Singapore from Bahrain on Sundays before onward flight to Bangkok. Sometimes, it lands in Singapore on Mondays from Bangkok before taking off for Bahrain.

Image courtesy : Health 1+1 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zcq8OoSXOSA)

Also consider stemming the flow of B.1.618 are the daily flights of Turkish Airlines from Istanbul where the country is facing the threat of B.1.618.

Covi variants in Singapore as of 4 May 2021 (Table: https://outbreak.info/location-reports?loc=SGP)

The major covi variants of concern in Singapore are B.1351 (South Africa variant, 29%) and B.1.17 (UK variant, 21%). These data come from GISAID.