They are studying if the new strain of COVID-19 is spreading in our country – Diseases

In Bulgaria, studies are underway to see if the new strain of COVID-19 is spreading in Bulgaria. The virus will be isolated from patients in different parts of the country to check if it is also circulating here. A team of experts from the National Center for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases has already been formed, which will analyze samples taken from patients in Bulgaria.

What do we know about the new strain and how dangerous is it?

The virus is characterized by a spike on its surface or the so-called. “spike protein”, which recognizes the receptor on the cell surface. This helps to enter and infect it, BTV notes.

UK Health Minister: New strain of COVID is out of control

The identified mutations are in this part of the virus, ie. in “peak protein”.

The problem is that our immune response also targets this part of the virus, as well as vaccines, that is, we create immunity to something that changes.

To date, thousands of other mutations have been identified in the coronavirus, most of which are neutral and do not affect the behavior of the virus itself. Data published in the UK shows that more than 1,100 people have been infected with the virus, the majority under the age of 60. The first case is from September.

Scientists link the subsequent jump in morbidity there to the new viral variant, that is. Suppose it is transmitted more easily, which is the main concern at the moment. For now, it is clear that the new viral variant is likely to spread more easily. There is no evidence that it leads to a more severe course of the disease or higher mortality. However, mutations are part of the life of viruses, experts explain, and do not necessarily have a significant impact.

“So far, there are many mutations found in the coronavirus – there are more than 12 thousand mutations, they are not really found to affect the severity of the disease, even a strain has been tested in Singapore, in which a mutation has led to a course milder disease, “he told BTV Assoc. Prof. Nina Yancheva, Head of the Department of Infectious Diseases of the Medical University of Sofia.

In the UK, data collection and analysis continues. One thing is for sure: protection is done the same way: mask, distance, and hand washing. Studies are also starting in Bulgaria: the virus will be isolated from patients in different parts of the country to check if it is also circulating here.

“We plan to do a study in January, which will perform cellogenomic sequencing of selected samples from different parts of the country and from different eras,” said associate professor Ivaylo Alexiev of the National Center for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases.

So far, many virus mutations have been identified in Bulgaria, probably imported from different parts of the world at different times. The new version also raised the question of whether it would compromise the efficacy of the first COVID-19 vaccines.

“Currently, at least data from leading scientists around the world shows that the effect should not be expected to worsen, it is remarkably high, more than 90%,” said adjunct professor Borislav Borisov, president of the Bulgarian Association for Trials Clinicians

PCR tests detect the virus in general, but with rapid adaptation, if necessary, they will be able to show if it is the new strain. For the rest, the latest data on the virus in our country show a significant predominance of those cured over the newly infected. 166 are new cases, but traditionally with fewer PCR tests on Sunday. They are 790, which means positive results in about 1/5 of them. There are just over 6,600 people in the hospital. 1732 were cured. Unfortunately, 58 people died.