Guyana’s Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony says he is unaware of the presence of COVID-19 variants in Guyana. He was asked today, during his daily COVID-19 update, to comment on a recent disclosure made by the Advisor on emerging viral diseases at the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO), Dr. Jairo Mendez-Rico, that the P1 variant was present in Guyana.
Dr Mendez-Rico made the revelation during a webinar on SARS-CoV-2 variants organised by PAHO for journalists, a May 16, 2021 NewsRoom report stated.
However, Dr Anthony said that has since requested a report from PAHO.
“We don’t know what are the different types of variants – if they’re any – that is circulating in Guyana, because from the limited number of gene sequencing that was done on 10 samples, we were not able to identify any such variant like P1 or any of the others. So, this is really news to us. I have since asked PAHO for a report pertaining to this disclosure, and we’re awaiting PAHO’s response,” he said.
He also noted that for variants to be identified, samples have to go through gene sequencing, and that process “is not an easy” one.
“We continue to work with agencies that can get this done for us, but so far, we’ve not succeeded in getting samples to these agencies,” he related.
The P1 variant is present in neighbouring Brazil and is said to be the cause of the April spike resulting in death of thousands.
Other variants have popped up around the world. These would include: B 1.1.7 in the United Kingdom, the B.1.351 in South Africa and India’s B.1.617.
