Commenting on the point genetic mutation seen in throat swabs of three patients who succumbed to the virus, Chadha said, “We didn't see any change in the genetic make-up of the virus after that.” Of the three patients, two were from Pune and one from Nashik, said Chadha. The mutation was detected in the haemagglutinin (HA) region of the virus' gene, she added.
The above comments strongly suggest that D225G is linked to fatal cases in India. Earlier reports had described the detection of D225G in India and the CDC recently released an HA sequence at GISAID with D225G. However, earlier reports did not include outcomes. The above would confirm that D225G is in 3 of 3 fatal cases.