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The latest coronavirus mutations found in Europe and Africa have been under the microscope of researchers around the world.
There are more questions than answers in the new SARS-CoV-2 mutation, as it constantly integrates mutations into its genome, so scientists must track the data.
Genetic testing around the world has shown that this virus accumulates one or two random mutations per month.
Where did the first mutation appear?
The first worrying mutation of the coronavirus, called N501Y, was first identified in Britain in September.
The strain was considered particularly worrisome due to its high transmissibility, which is why the British government announced an emergency shutdown in London over Christmas. Many countries have cut air connections to the UK.
Meanwhile, two days later, British authorities in the country identified another “worrisome” mutation of SARS-CoV-2.
“We have identified two cases of another new coronavirus mutation,” the British Health Minister told a news conference.
Both patients had traveled to South Africa. That is why Britain has imposed immediate restrictions on travel to and from South Africa.
“This new mutation is of great concern because it is even more contagious and it appears that (the virus) has mutated more than the (first) mutation found in the UK,” he added.
What ages does the mutation “prefer”?
According to data from the European Center for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC), the mutation occurs mainly in people under 60 years of age. In Wales, among the 20 identified OUV 202012/01 cases, the mean age was 41 years in a group aged 11 to 71 years examined.
In addition, according to Neil Ferginson, professor at Imperial College London and a member of the UK New and Emerging Respiratory Threats Advisory Committee (NERVTAG), “there are indications that it has a greater tendency to infect children. We have not determined the cause. But we see it in the data. We will need to collect more data to see how it will perform in the future. ” Peter Horby, director of NERVTAG, adds that there is a large spread of the mutation in the community “so it is expected that there will be a large spread, possibly asymptomatic, among children.” In fact, he attributes the phenomenon to the fact that schools in England have been functioning normally all this time and the observed increase is due to the fact that the children had more socialization. Therefore, it remains to be scientifically documented but also from the tracking if there is a greater dispersion in the child population.
How much does the vaccine affect?
The World Health Organization has tried to allay major concerns by saying this is a normal part of a pandemic.
WHO officials, on the other hand, presented a positive aspect of the discovery of new strains of the virus, saying that new tools to monitor the virus are working.
“We have to find a balance.” It is very important to have transparency, it is very important to tell the public how things are, but it is also important to understand that this is a normal part of the virus, “said Mike Ryan, head of the countermeasures service. WHO Emergency Medical Conditions
“Being able to monitor a virus so closely, so carefully, so scientifically in real time is a really positive development for global public health, and the countries that do this kind of monitoring deserve praise.”
WHO officials said that coronavirus mutations so far have been much slower than the flu and that the new mutation that appeared in the UK is still much less contagious than other diseases such as mumps.
They said that vaccines developed to combat Covid-19 should be treated with new strains of the virus, although tests are underway to ensure this is the case. “So far, although we have seen many changes, many mutations, none have significantly affected either the virus’ susceptibility to any of the current therapies or drugs or vaccines in development and there is hope that this will continue to be the case,” he said . Sumia Swaminathan, WHO Chief Scientist.
The first case of the new mutation in Germany
The SARS-CoV-2 mutation has been identified in the state of Baden-Württemberg.
The infected person flew to Frankfurt from London Heathrow airport on December 20 to visit relatives and tested positive upon arrival. A subsequent genetic analysis of the sample in a laboratory in Berlin showed a case of B.1.1.7, as the name of the mutation is known, the south-western state’s Ministry of Health said in a statement.
“This is the first known case in Germany,” he added.
The man, who has had mild symptoms since, was picked up from the airport by car by family members and has since been placed in solitary confinement at the family residence in Baden-Württemberg, the ministry added.
Three people who were in close contact with this man were also quarantined.
The rapid spread of the new variant of the virus in Britain has led some European countries to cut transport links with the country.
Singapore also confirmed the first case of the new coronavirus mutation today.
Another new variant of the coronavirus has been found in Nigeria
Another new variant of the novel coronavirus appears to have appeared in Nigeria, the head of the African Organization for Disease Control said today, warning that more research is needed.
“He’s a different executive from Britain and South Africa,” John Nkengasong, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Africa, said at an online news conference with Addis Ababa.
“What we are seeing in Nigeria, and this is still based on very limited data, has the 501 mutation,” Nengasong added, referring to the 501.V2 variant identified in South Africa and announced by public health officials there on December 18. .
The Nigerian CDC and the African Center of Excellence in Infectious Disease Genomics in Nigeria will study more samples, Nengasong said.
The country’s leading research center for COVID-19 has just released the genomic sequences of the new variant, Nengasong added.
The Nigerian CDC did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Nengasong’s comments.
Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa with a population of more than 200 million, has fewer coronavirus cases than many others on the continent.
The total number of cases exceeded 80,000 yesterday Wednesday. Recorded daily cases exceeded 1,000 for the first time this month.
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