Misbah Ali

More than 40,000 “breakthrough” cases or COVID-19 infections have been found among vaccinated people in Kerala, top official sources in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare informed a media house.

Amidst the fear of an outbreak of the virus, the central government has asked Kerala to send all such cases for genome sequencing –which analyses the virus sample taken from a diagnosed patient and compares it with other cases.

The sources have said that there is real worry if the virus has mutated sufficiently to enable it to escape the immunity being provided by vaccines or previous infection.

It is still unknown if the breakthrough infections are fuelled by the fast-spreading Delta variant, first found in India and since driving the surge in different nations across the globe.

Most breakthrough cases have been recorded from the Pathanamthitta district.

In Pathanamthitta 1, 4974 people were found positive for coronavirus after the first COVID dose, while 5,042 were found infected after the second dose.

The sources added that some Kerala districts have also witnessed the reinfection, which is rare but not impossible.

Vaccination plays a crucial role in protecting a person from a first infection, but it is also vital for those who have already had COVID.

Kerala continues to be the highest contributor to the country’s daily COVID count. For the past few weeks, it has been witnessing over 20,000 infections daily, with a dip seen yesterday, when it recorded 13,049 cases and 105 fatalities. The state on August 11, 2021, reported 21,119 cases and 152 fatalities.