Coronavirus Pandemic: India Becomes Fifth Country To Isolate Coronavirus; 11 Strains Identified 

In a major stride towards developing a vaccine for Covid-19, India became the fifth country to successfully isolate novel-coronavirus strain, after Japan, China, Thailand and the United States of America, reports Times of India.

As per report, 11 strains of the Covid-19 virus were isolated by the scientists at the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune.

The isolation of virus will enable development of drugs, vaccines and rapid diagnostic kits in the country, said Dr Balram Bhargav, director general of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

However, the scientists will still need between 18 months-two years to develop a Covid-19 vaccine even if the clinical trials are expedited, the government said.

"Total 21 throat swab and nasal swab samples were examined for this purpose. Of that, 11 tested positive and eight strains could be isolated from among them. They are 99.98% identical with the strain of the virus that led to outbreaks in Wuhan in China," said Dr R R Gangakhedkar, chief epidemiologist at ICMR as per a LiveMint report.

“The strains are the prerequisite for conducting any research related to viruses," he added.

Presently there is not cure for covid-19. The isolation of the virus will enable multiple studies that will throw light on the biology and evolution of the novel-coronavirus.