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Health authorities in Middlesbrough in north-west England have ordered additional tests for coronavirus following the detection of a case of the South African variant.
The mutant strain of coronavirus, which has now been detected more than 200 times in the UK, was identified as part of a random sequencing by Public Health England, with the case linked to the Marton and Coulby Newham areas.
On Friday, the Covid surge test was implemented in Staffordshire in England’s West Midlands after another case of the SA variant was detected in a resident with no ties to international travel.
Dr Nic Coetzee, Communicable Disease Control Consultant for Public Health England Midlands, said: “With new variants emerging all the time and spreading more rapidly, it is not surprising that a case of the South African variant has been found in Staffordshire “.
Around 200 cases of the SA variant have been reported across the UK.
In December, when the strain emerged in South Africa, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize issued a harsh rebuke to UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock after the British politician claimed the strain was “spreading faster than other strains “in the UK.
Mkhize described Hancock’s comments as “reckless.”
He has opposed this suggestion, issuing a stern reprimand on Thursday.
Fifth highest infection rate
Middlesbrough currently has the fifth highest infection rate in England, data from Public Health England shows.
Esther Mireku, a public health consultant in Middlesbrough, said: “I urge everyone 16 and over in the Marton and Coulby Newham areas to come forward for testing.
“This will help us better understand the possible spread of this new variant.”
“The high prevalence of Covid in the city, combined with the reports of this variant, are a reminder to everyone of the importance of staying home as much as possible and following hand space when they are away for an essential reason,” He said. saying.
Local Mayor Andy Preston said: “What is really important now is that we establish whether the bypass has spread further across Middlesbrough.”
UK Health Authorities Investigate Six Variants of Coronavirus
Public Health England is currently investigating six coronavirus variants, mailonline reported, five of which have already been found in the UK.
Surge testing has been implemented in various areas across the country in an attempt to overcome new variants of the disease.
Another mutation, dubbed the ‘Kent variant’, was first found in south-east England in September, and scientists confirmed that it is much more transmissible than the original covid-19 strain that spread last spring.
There have been more than 59,000 cases of this variant tracked by the Government.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended the Oxford / AstraZeneca jab even for use against the South African strain.
The Covid 501Y.V2 variant
The South African variant of the coronavirus, known as 501Y.V2 or B.1.351, has mutations in its outer tip proteins that change the shape of the virus in a way that makes it look different to the body than previous versions of the virus.
Because immune system antibodies are so specific, any change in the part of the virus that they adhere to, in this case spikes, can affect how effectively they can do so.
Current vaccines have been developed using versions of the virus from a year ago, which did not have the mutations of the South African variant or other strains, so scientists worry that the immunity they create will not be good enough to stop it.
Vaccines and variant
Oxford / AstraZeneca (Approved; in use in the UK)
Research published in February claimed that the Oxford / AstraZeneca vaccine appears to have a “minimal effect” against the South African variant.
A study of 2,000 people conducted by the universities of Wits and Oxford found that two doses of the jab can offer only 10-20% protection against mild or moderate Covid-19.
Oxford and AstraZeneca said they are already working on a reinforcement jab targeting the South African variant and that it will be ready in the fall.
Pfizer / BioNTech (approved; in use in the UK)
Two studies suggest that the Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine will protect against the South African variant, although its ability to neutralize the virus is less.
One from Pfizer and the University of Texas found that the mutations had “small effects” on their efficacy. In a laboratory study on the blood of 20 vaccine recipients, they found a reduction in the amount of active antibodies to tackle the variant, but it was still enough to destroy the virus, they said.
Another New York University study made the same finding in 10 blood samples from people who received the needle stick. That team said there was ‘partial resistance’ to the variant and that a boost should be done, but that it would still be more effective than a previous infection with another variant.
Pfizer is developing an updated version of its jab to address the variant.
Modern (Approved; Delivery expected in March)
Moderna said its vaccine “retains neutralizing activity” against the South African variant.
In a January statement, the company said it had tested the prick in the blood of eight people who had received it and found that antibody levels were significantly lower when exposed to the South African variant, but it still worked.
Moderna is working on a reinforcement coup to tackle the South African variant.
Janssen / Johnson & Johnson (Awaiting approval; 30 million dose)
Janssen, a Johnson & Johnson subsidiary, has tested its vaccine in South Africa and found that it prevented 57% of Covid cases.
This was the lowest efficacy the company saw in its global tests: in Latin America it was 66% and in the US 72%
These differences are likely due in part to the variants in circulation.
The vaccine was 85% effective in stopping serious illness and 100% effective in stopping death from Covid-19, even in South Africa, where the variant is dominant, Janssen said.
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