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COPENHAGEN, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) – World Health Organization (WHO) regional director for Europe Dr. Hans Kluge on Saturday allayed concerns that the mink-related coronavirus “group 5” mutation found in Denmark it could affect vaccine development.
“It is a realistic question to ask whether ‘group 5’ can harm a vaccine. At this time, there is no reason to say it will harm vaccine development. But it needs to be investigated. Because it is a new combination. it’s a new element, “Kluge told a hastily convened press conference at the Danish Health Ministry on Saturday.
On Friday, Geneva-based WHO experts also said there is no evidence at the moment that the mutation of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in mink in Denmark affects the efficacy of future vaccines for COVID-19.
It is “too early to draw hasty conclusions about the implications of these specific mutations,” whether for transmission, the severity of the clinical presentation of COVID-19, the immune response or the potential efficacy of the vaccine, said in a press release. WHO Chief Scientist Soumya Swaminathan. briefing, adding that “we have to wait and see what the implications are.”
On November 5, Danish health authorities reported 12 human cases of COVID-19 caused by a specific mink-associated variant strain of SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus that causes the COVID-19 pandemic.
All 12 cases live in North Jutland and felt bad in September. Eight had a link to the mink farming industry and four cases were from the local community, according to the WHO Europe statement on Saturday.
Since June 2020, 214 human cases of COVID-19 have been identified in Denmark with variants of SARS-CoV-2 associated with farmed minks, including 12 cases with a unique variant.
This particular variant strain shows a combination of mutations not previously documented. Laboratory tests performed in Denmark indicate that this strain may have a reduced response to neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. These findings are preliminary and further studies and international collaboration are underway to confirm them, WHO Europe said in the statement.
Mink farms in several European countries have shown that the virus can move between mink and humans. “It is always a concern when a virus passes from animals to humans, as genetic changes can occur as it goes back and forth,” he said.
The WHO has been monitoring genetic changes in the COVID-19 virus since the start of the pandemic through a working group dedicated to the virology of COVID-19, according to WHO Europe.
Kluge also supported the Danish government’s decision to kill all minks in the country as a precautionary measure, saying “it’s better to be safe than sorry later.”
He also welcomed Denmark’s plan to test 280,000 Danish citizens in infected North Jutland and commended the government for sharing knowledge about the new mink mutation.
“It is important that the data is shared in Europe because there are many uncertainties,” he said.
Denmark reported 1,050 COVID-19 infections in a 24-hour span, with the total number of confirmed infections now at 54,230, while the number of deaths has risen from four to 187, according to Saturday’s update from the Danish Statens Serum Institute ( SSI).
As the world struggles to contain the pandemic, countries such as France, China, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States are racing to find a vaccine.
According to the World Health Organization website, as of November 3, 202 COVID-19 candidate vaccines were in development worldwide, and 47 of them were in clinical trials. Final product
