KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama): There have been no instances of the Covid-19 Mu variant detected from samples taken across the country so far, says the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry (Mosti).

       In a statement (Oct 1), it said 1,312 samples were analysed as of Sept 30 by a consortium comprising seven laboratories under Mosti, Health Ministry and higher education institutions under the Higher Institution Ministry.

       The laboratories are the Malaysia Genome Institute, Institute for Medical Research (IMR), UKM Medical Molecular Biology Institute (Umbi), Tropical and Infectious Diseases Research Centre (Tidrec) of Universiti Malaya, UM Medical Microbiology Department, Integrative Pharmacogenomics Institute (iPromise) of Universiti Teknologi Mara, and Institute of Health and Community Medicine of Unimas.

       Of the total samples analysed, 94.9% or 1,246 samples were identified as delta variant, 11 were beta variant and 55 were other variants.

       "The delta variant is known to be more dangerous with higher infectivity rate and can rapidly cause a new local cluster," the statement read.

       The statement said information Covid-19 variants is crucial to enable the government to take appropriate and specific measures to curb and control the spread of dangerous variants and intensify the local vaccine development programmes.

       It said, Mosti had also approved an allocation of RM3,227,200 under its Strategic Research Fund to finance the genome surveillance project on the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes Covid-19.

       The project is expected to complete 3,000 genome sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 viruses especially variants of concern (VOC) like Delta and the variants of interest (VOI) like Lambda dan Mu.

       Mosti also announced an additional allocation of RM13.9mil to the seven-laboratory consortium to facilitate collaboration and generate their research findings in the field of SARS-CoV-2 viral infectious diseases, thus become the catalyst for local vaccine development.

       "With the additional allocation from Mosti, it is expected that the consortium can complete additional 10,000 genome sequencing of the SARS-CoV-2 viruses," it said. – Bernama