UNS — The spokesperson for Covid-19 Taskforce at the Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta Hospital, Tonang Dwi Ardyanto, dr.,Sp.PK., Ph.D, reminded the people of the danger of SARS-CoV-2 variant from India or the Delta Variant, that have infected people in Kudus District, Central Java. He mentioned that Delta Variant has similar human-to-human transmission, but it has the ability to trick the immune system, which is different from the other variants.
“To this day, the transmission stays the same, through eyes, mouth, and nose. The only difference from this mutation is it could trick our immune system. It clings to our body cells; thus, we show no symptoms at the beginning, previously our body showed an immediate reaction, but this variant does not,” dr. Tonang explained.
In the Overview discussion titled “New Variant of Corona and Fake Covid Result” live-streamed in Tribunnews.com YouTube channel on Thursday (17/6/2021), dr. Tonang stated that in many cases of patients infected by the Delta Variant, the symptoms only appear after the virus attacked the lungs. This condition makes the Covid-19 patient condition decreased rapidly and reduces the effectiveness of the available vaccines developed before this variant appears.
“That’s why people now said, ‘Why people condition decreased rapidly now?’ Because we only detect it once it is in lungs,” dr. Tonang explained.
In the discussion, dr. Tonang also suggested that people do not overly anxious with the Delta Variant detected in Indonesia as an objection toward news that mentioned that this variant had been detected in Surakarta. The truth is that this variant was detected in Covid-19 patients from Kudus District isolated in Asrama Haji, Donohudan. The result of 34 whole-genome sequencings (WGS) samples confirmed that 28 Covid-19 patients from Kudus were infected by Delta Variant.
“The Delta Variant has not been reported (red: in Surakarta). If you heard the news that it reached Solo, it means that we are providing a place for our fellows from Kudus,” he added.
Virus Mutation
dr. Tonang explained that the diverse SARS-CoV-2 variants detected in various countries such as the UK and Brazil are caused by virus mutation’s purpose; to sustain its life. In medical science, a virus could live if it is attached to a host cell. When a virus enters the human body, it will continue to multiply through the copy of genetic information, both its RNA or DNA, to the healthy cell in the human body. Therefore, to sustain its life, the virus needs to adapt through mutation to deceive its host’s immune system. After its mutation, it will be harder for the immune system to identify the virus, and thus, it could stay and attack its host.
The mutation also enables the virus to get stronger and multiply faster, opening the potential of new virus variants such as Delta Variant. “The new mutation means a new variant went through a more complex mutation. But some of the mutations are insignificant, meaning it doesn’t change our body to protect itself,” dr. Tonang explained. Humas UNS
Reporter: Yefta Christopherus AS
Editor: Dwi Hastuti