The UK variant- a fast-spreading mutant of the COVID-19 virus- is behind the recent surge of infections in Nepal, according to a report in the Kathmandu Post. The health ministry of Nepal had sent some samples for genome sequencing, and the result confirmed the prevalence of the variant. 

The tests were conducted in the WHO’s collaborating centers in Hong Kong, Samir Kumar Adhikari, the spokesperson of the ministry said on Wednesday in a press conference. 

“A number of schoolchildren, teachers, and others are getting infected in significant numbers in recent days,” he said. “We would like to request everyone to be serious and follow safety measures, as the UK variant of the virus is found spreading significantly in communities,” he added. 

In the Himalayan country, the first case of the UK variant was detected in January. And, now for the past few days, the country saw a steady rise in coronavirus cases. India, too, is witnessing a dramatic rise in cases. 

Dr. Runa Jha, Director at the National Public Health Laboratory, speaking to the Kathmandu Post also confirmed the same: “Yes, the UK variant of virus might be responsible for the recent spike in new cases. We have been finding S-gene target failure in polymerase chain reaction tests of late.”