LONDON (Reuters) – A new version of the pandemic coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 is spreading rapidly in Britain and provoking high levels of concern among its European neighbors, some of which have cut transport links.
The strain, referred to by some experts as line B.1.1.7, is not the first new variant of the pandemic virus to emerge, but is said to be up to 70% more susceptible than the previous pressures in the United Kingdom.
Are the CONCERNS JUSTIFIED?
Most scientists say that. The new variant has quickly become mainstream in cases of COVID-19 in parts of the south of England, and has been linked to rising hospital rates, particularly in London and the United Kingdom. the county next to Kent.
Although first seen in Britain in September, before the week of December 9 in London, 62% of COVID-19 cases were due to the new change. That compared with 28% of cases three weeks earlier.
The governments of Australia, Italy and the Netherlands say they have found cases of the new snoring. It was celebrated in the Netherlands in early December.
A few cases of COVID-19 with the new variant have been reported to ECDC, the European disease surveillance body, by Iceland and Denmark. Media reports in Belgium say cases have been found there as well.
“It’s absolutely right to take it,” said Peter Openshaw, professor of experimental medicine at Imperial College London. Shaun Fitzgerald, a visiting professor at Cambridge University, said the situation was “very worrying.”
WHY?
The main concern is that the variable is much more mobile than the original species. There are 23 mutations in its genetic code – a very high number of mutations – some of which affect its ability to spread.
Scientists say it is about 40% -70% more mobile. The UK Government said on Saturday it could increase the “R” reproduction rate by 0.4.
This means that it is spreading faster in Britain, making the pandemic there even more difficult to control and increasing the risk of it spreading rapidly in other countries.
“The new B.1.1.7 … still reveals that the original one had all the human deaths, but with a greater transmission potential,” said Martin Hibberd, professor of infectious disease emerging at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.
CAN COVID-19 VACCINES HAVE TO DO WHAT TO DO?
Scientists say there is no evidence that vaccines currently in use in the UK – manufactured by Pfizer and BioNtech – or other COVID-19 strains in development will not protect against this variant.
“It is very likely that this will have little or no effect on the effectiveness of the vaccine,” said Adam Finn, a vaccine specialist and professor of pediatrics at Bristol University.
British chief scientific adviser Patrick Vallance said COVID-19 vaccines appeared to be appropriate in generating an immune response to the coronavirus variant.
“We do not see … any major changes in the spike protein that will reduce vaccine efficacy to date,” said Julian Tang, a professor and clinical pathologist at the University of Leicester.
Does ANYTHING INCLUDE?
To some extent, yes.
One of the mutations in the new variant affects one of three genomic targets used by some PCR experiments. This means that, in these tests, that target range, or “channel”, would be negative.
“This affected the ability of some experiments to detect the virus,” said Robert Shorten, a microbiology expert at the Society for Clinical Biochemistry & Laboratory Medicine.
Since PCR tests typically detect more than one gene target, however, a mutation in the spike protein only partially affects the test, reducing that risk of negative results. attracted.
ARE THERE OTHER SIGNIFICANT SARS-CoV-2 WARRANTIES?
There is. Outbreaks of the virus that causes COVID-19 have emerged in recent months in South Africa, Spain, Denmark and other countries of concern.
But none have, so far, been found to contain mutations that make it more lethal, or more likely to be able to avoid vaccines or medications.
DID YOU KNOW THIS NEW WORLD IN BRITAIN?
Vallance said on Saturday it thought the new variant may have started in the UK. Some scientists in Europe have credited British knowledge in genomic analysis to identify the imitation.
“The UK has one of the most comprehensive genetic testing programs in the world – 5% to 10% of all virus samples are genetically tested. Few countries are doing better, ”Steven Van Gucht, head of viral diseases at the Belgian Institute of Health, said at a news conference on Monday.
Additional commentary by Philip Blenkinsop in Brussels, edited by Josephine Mason and Mark Heinrich