The virus continues to be highly transmissible

Exclusive interview Dr Priya Abraham, director, National Institute of Virology

- POOJA BIRAIA JAISWAL

Dr Priya Abraham was barely two months into her job as the director of the National Institute of Virology, Pune, when her lab stumbled upon a specimen that would later be confirmed as the first Covid positive case in India. Among the Indian Council of Medical Research’s 27 institutes, the NIV’s mandate is to be a watchdog against viral infections. Its microbial containment facility in Pune has been working with the actual living virus of the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant. In an exclusive interview, Abraham tells THE WEEK about the “trial by fire” at the NIV, the current “relatively quieter” period, the changing behaviour of the virus and why it is too early to bring down one’s guard. Excerpts:

What is your current assessment of the Covid-19 situation?

The virus has not gone away. It is very much in our midst and it is equally highly infectious and transmissible even now. But we need to prevent its fast spread because the quick transmission will encourage the creation of mutations. We are slowly upping the percentage of people who are completely vaccinated. A good number of people are adhering to social measures required to curtail the spread. So we are seeing a lower number of cases across the country, except in some states. Vaccines are extremely effective in preventing serious disease and deaths due to the virus, including the Delta variant, but it is a fact that they are not able to give more than 90 per cent protection against picking up the infection. Hence, following Covid appropriate behaviour is still recommended.

How long can the vaccines protect us?