Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia (KKM) telah menemui dua kes pertama individu yang dijangkiti Varian Nigeria SARS-CoV-2, yang juga dikenali sebagai B1.525, di Malaysia.
Kes-kes ini adalah dari dua warganegara asing yang telah tiba dari Dubai, UAE dan didapati positif COVID-19 melalui ujian swab RT PCR. Institut Penyelidikan Perubatan (IMR) selanjutnya melakukan penjujukan genom penuh kerana mengambilkira sejarah perjalanan mereka.

Analisis lebih lanjut menunjukkan adanya semua mutasi yang dilaporkan berkait dengan varian tersebut. Ini termasuk mutasi "spike protein" E484K, Q677H, F888L dan rangkaian “protein deletions” serupa yang dilihat dalam varian UK B.1.1.7. Mutasi "spike protein" E484K juga mendapat perhatian kerana ianya dilaporkan dapat menghindari sistem imun.
Dikenali sebagai B.1.525, varian Nigeria pertama kali dikesan di UK dan Nigeria pada bulan Disember 2020. Sejak dari itu, sebanyak 360 urutan varian ini boleh dijumpai di GISAID, dengan laporan tertinggi dari Denmark (n = 121) , diikuti oleh UK (n = 73) dan Nigeria (n = 56). Varian Nigeria juga boleh menyebabkan peningkatan dalam kebolehjangkitan serta kemungkinan penurunan tindak balas imun.

KKM melalui IMR dan CPRC Kebangsaan akan sentiasa memantau perkembangan mutasi Nigeria B1.525 ini dan akan memaklumkan masyarakat umum dari semasa ke semasa. Walaupun program vaksinasi sedang dilaksanakan, tindakan kesihatan awam masih perlu diamalkan kerana imuniti kelompak masih belum tercapai. Orang ramai dinasihati agar sentiasa mengamalkan kebersihan kendiri dengan kerap membasuh tangan, memakai pelitup muka terutamanya di tempat awam, dan menjaga penjarakan fizikal setiap masa.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) Malaysia has found our first two cases of persons infected with the Nigerian Variant of SARS-CoV-2, also known as B1.525, in Malaysia.
These are from two foreign nationals who had arrived from Dubai, UAE and were found to be COVID-19 positive by a swab RT PCR test. The Institute for Medical Research (IMR) subsequently proceeded to do full genome sequencing due to their travel history.

Further analysis indicated the presence of all the reported mutations corresponding to this variant. This includes protein spike mutations E484K, Q677H, F888L and a similar suite of protein deletions seen in the UK variant B.1.1.7. The E484K protein spike mutation is of high concern as this mutation has been reported to evade the immune system.
Known as B.1.525, the Nigerian variant was first detected in the UK and Nigeria in December 2020. Ever since then, a total of 360 sequences of this variant can be found in GISAID, with the highest submission from Denmark (n=121), followed by UK (n=73) and Nigeria (n=56). The Nigerian variants too may cause increase in transmissibility as well as possible reductions in immune response.

MOH through IMR and the National CPRC will constantly monitor the development of this Nigerian B1.525 mutation and will inform the public from time to time. Even with the COVID-19 vaccination programme underway, public health measures must continue to be practiced as we have yet to achieve herd immunity. The public is advised to always practice personal hygiene by washing their hands regularly, wear their face masks especially in public places, and maintaining physical distancing at all times.

Sumber : FB Ketua Pengarah Kesihatan KKM