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The World Health Organization (WHO) says it is in “close contact” with UK officials about the emergence of a new strain of coronavirus.
The new variant is spreading faster than the original version, but it is not believed to be any more deadly.
Along with the UK, the same Covid-19 virus mutation has also been detected in the Netherlands, Denmark and Australia, the WHO told the BBC.
There is no evidence that the virus mutation responds differently to vaccines.
Scientists now have to grapple with concerns about the impact of the new variant, especially whether it will lead to an increase in cases of severe Covid disease or, indeed, fewer cases. The other big question is whether the new variant will be able to circumvent the protection offered by the Covid-19 vaccines, which are already being made in Britain and will be launched in other European countries in the coming days.
In the United Kingdom, much of south-east England, including London, is now under a new and stricter level of containment in an effort to slow the rapid spread of the virus.
On Sunday (12/20), the Netherlands announced a ban on passenger flights from the UK until January 1 due to the new variant.
The decision was made when tests performed on samples taken in the Netherlands earlier this month revealed the same new variant of the coronavirus that was reported in the UK.
Pending “further clarity” on the situation in the UK, the Dutch government said “the additional risk of introducing the new strain of the virus into the Netherlands should be minimized as much as possible”.
The Dutch government also said it will work with other European Union member states in the coming days to “explore the possibilities to further reduce the risk of the new virus being transmitted from the UK.”
Speaking to the BBC, WHO epidemiologist Maria van Kerkhove said experts had been “monitoring mutations around the world since the beginning of the pandemic.”
WHO urges its members to “strengthen controls” in Europe
At the same time, the World Health Organization calls on its members in Europe to “strengthen their controls” due to the new mutation of the coronavirus that is circulating in Great Britain, the WHO branch in Europe told the Agency today. French.
Outside the UK, cases have been reported in Denmark (9), as well as one in the Netherlands and Australia, according to the WHO, recommending that members “improve their sequencing skills” until they learn more about the dangers it poses. the mutation, said a spokesperson for WHO Europe.
According to the WHO, in addition to “preliminary indications that the mutation could be more contagious”, the mutation “could also affect the effectiveness of certain diagnostic methods”, always according to “preliminary information”.
On the contrary, “there is no evidence of a change in the severity of the disease”, even if this question is being investigated.
The World Health Organization will provide more information as soon as it has a “clearer picture of the characteristics of this mutation,” said a spokeswoman for the World Health Organization in Europe, when asked by AFP.
“In Europe, where transmission is high and widespread, countries must intensify their control and prevention processes,” he said.
At the global level, WHO recommends that “all countries increase their capacities for sequencing the Sars-Cov-2 virus when possible and share data internationally, especially if the same problem mutations are detected.”
In addition to the three countries that located the strain of British origin in their territory, “several other countries have informed the WHO of other mutations that carry certain genetic changes in the British mutation”, in particular a mutation called “N501Y”.
South Africa, which also reported a troublesome mutation on Friday, believes this “N501Y” mutation is responsible for the increased number of infections.
The country is “conducting additional research to better understand the connection,” the WHO said.
Nurses in Belgium
AP
Flights and itineraries are suspended
Belgium will suspend flights and train services from Great Britain until midnight Sunday (0100 GMT) following the discovery of a new mutation of the coronavirus, which circulates in parts of the British territory, a government official told AFP.
For his part, Prime Minister Alexander de Croes told VRT that the suspension would last at least 24 hours.
The sudden decision comes a day after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the resumption of quarantine in London, southeastern England and parts of the east of the country, following the discovery of a new Covid-19 mutant in those areas.
The suspension of flights to Belgium from the UK will apply to flights and the Eurostar train departing from London. The Netherlands imposed a similar ban.
Furthermore, Germany is considering banning flights from the UK and South Africa, where the virus variant was also detected, a source from the German Health Ministry told AFP.
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