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Under 60, initially with a Kentish accent, south-east England. Not now. It is the identikit of the “English patient”. The ideal target of the new coronavirus variant SARS-CoV-2 intercepted in UK. A variant that is preferred by young people and adults under 60, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) in an approach in which it takes stock of what is known so far. The UN health agency was informed “on December 14” by the UK health authorities of the new variant, “identified by viral genome sequencing.”
Until December 13, cases only in south-east England
The British have given it an acronym: VUI 202012/01 (Variant Under Investigation, year 2020, month 12, variant 01). The initial analysis, recalls the WHO, “indicates that it can be spread more easily between people”, to establish with certainty everything else (if it can give a more serious disease, if it affects the effectiveness of the vaccine) studies are being carried out. «As of December 13, 1,108 cases had been identified in the UK – WHO rebuilds – The variant was detected as part of an epidemiological and virological investigation conducted in early December following an unexpected spike in Covid-19 cases.» in a specific area, i.e. «in south east england». Here from October 5 to December 13 he registered «a more than 3-fold increase in the case notification rate» calculated in 14 days. «On average, 5-10% of all detected SARS-CoV-2 viruses have been routinely sequenced in the UK since the onset of the pandemic, 4% in south-east England.».
In this specific area, in the period in which the boom in cases was observed (October 5-December 13), «more than 50% of the isolates were identified as a variant». Retrospective analysis «tracked the first identified variant in Kent on September 20, 2020, followed by a rapid increase in late November. Most of the cases have occurred in people under the age of 60.». The new variant has also been identified outside British borders, in several countries, including Australia, Denmark, Italy, Iceland, and the Netherlands.
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«The variant is more transmissible than the previous viruses.»
Preliminary reports from the United Kingdom, the WHO continues, indicate that this variant “is more transmissible than previous circulating viruses, with an estimated increase in transmissibility of between 40% and 70% (adding 0.4 to the basic reproduction number R0, taking it to a range of 1.5 to 1.7) “. What to do now? “All countries must assess their local level of transmission and apply appropriate prevention and control activities, including the adaptation of social and public health measures according to the WHO guidelines,” reports the UN health agency.
“It is important to remind communities and health professionals of the basic principles to reduce the general risk of transmission of acute respiratory infections”, lists the WHO, which calls for the improvement of standard infection prevention and control practices in hospitals , particularly in emergency departments. And remember the importance of wearing a mask, social distancing, and hand washing. The WHO focuses in particular on the travelers node in general, including those to and from the UK. Particularly rigorous anti-contagion measures are recommended, and the importance of consulting a doctor who informs you of your travel history in case of symptoms indicative of acute respiratory illness during or after the trip is reiterated.
‘Health authorities should work with the travel, transport and tourism sectors to provide travelers with information that reduces the overall risk of acute respiratory infections, at entry points at stations, airports, etc., through medicine clinics for travelers, travel agencies, transport operators, “indicates the WHO, recalling that,” in line with the recommendation made by the Emergency Committee on Covid-19 at its most recent meeting, States should periodically review the measures applied to international travel and to motivate the WHO to those who significantly interfere with international traffic, ensuring that they are based on risk and the evidence collected, and that they are proportionate and limited in time ”. There is also a provisional guide recently published by WHO on this topic.
Last updated: 14:13
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