India has successfully cultured the new viral strain UK-variant of SARS-CoV-2.

No country has yet reported successful isolation and culture of the UK-variant of SARS-CoV-2.

Indian Council of Medical Research, ICMR said, SARS-CoV-2 the virus causing Covid-19 was tracked through countrywide network of ICMR laboratories since early days of epidemic in India.

It said, UK-variant of the virus with all signature changes is now successfully isolated and cultured at the National Institute of Virology, NIV from the clinical specimens collected from UK-returnees.

ICMR said, Vero cell lines were used by the Scientists of ICMR-NIV to culture the UK variant of the virus.