Bad evolution crown … from variant to variant around the world

The corona 19 variant virus, first discovered in the UK, has been found in the Middle East and Asia beyond Europe and is spreading throughout the world. The contagious power is known to be roughly 70% stronger than the existing Corona 19 virus, and emergency lights have been turned back on by quarantine measures, as countries around the world blockade their borders.

Countries with confirmed variants of coronavirus. Graphic = Younghee Kim [email protected]

According to foreign media on the 27th, currently UK corona 19 infection cases are reported across the world. In Europe, it was found in various parts of the continent, including the United Kingdom, Spain, France, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, Denmark, Ireland, Italy, and the Netherlands.

In Lebanon and Israel, the Middle Eastern countries along the Mediterranean coast, one and four cases of corona 19 infection were recently confirmed, respectively. Asian Singaporeans, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Australia have also confirmed infection with the virus.

In neighboring Japan, 7 cases of strain infection were reported as of the 26th, and one of them was confirmed as the first case of infection in Japan that was transmitted to British immigrants.

Canada, while passing through the Atlantic Ocean, also confirmed two cases of virus infection in Ontario on the 26th. In particular, the two infected are known to have no history of traveling to the United Kingdom, unlike most infections by crown 19 above, and Canadian domestic transmission is also a concern.

In Africa, a variant of Corona 19 native to the United Kingdom and another variant of the virus were also found. On the 24th, the African Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced in Reuters that different corona 19 strains appear to have appeared recently in South Africa and Nigeria. In particular, the corona 19 variant found in South Africa is known to be more contagious than the UK variant.

A new coronavirus observed with an electron microscope at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). [AP=연합뉴스]

In the United States, which has the highest number of corona 19 cases and deaths in the world, cases of variant corona 19 infection have not been officially confirmed. However, local health officials said the virus may have already spread in the United States.

According to the US CNBC, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explained that “the US has rarely performed gene sequencing (to check for mutations) With this in mind, the COVID-19 variant may already be in the US. ” did.

UK Corona 19, which has been reported around the world, was first discovered in the south-eastern part of the UK in September. The British government analyzes that the infectivity of the strain called ‘B.1.1.7 (VUI-202012/01)’ is up to 70% stronger than the existing virus.

Due to its high infectivity, this strain is the main cause of the recent outbreak in the UK. According to the BBC on 27, the British Office for Statistics (ONS) announced that two-thirds of confirmed cases in London and the east and southeast of England were infected with the variant.

It is not yet clear if the British variant is more lethal than the existing Corona 19. However, experts predict that even if strains appear, the efficacy of the vaccine will not be significantly affected.You are doing.

As more infectious strains emerged, and most cases of foreign strains infected with Corona 19 were traced back to incomers from the UK, countries around the world entered drastic border control as in the spring. The BBC reported on 27 that some 40 countries restrict entry from the UK.

Also, some countries are closing the entire border. Saudi Arabia, Oman and Kuwait said they would close their borders for a week. Japan also suspends the entry of new foreigners from the 28th until the end of next month, except in some cases.

When France restricted entry from the United Kingdom to prevent the influx of COVID-19 from the United Kingdom, on the 22nd the French border was announced at the port of Dover, in southeastern England. [AFP=연합뉴스]

South Korea also temporarily suspended flights from the United Kingdom from 23 to 31, and crown19 even before the quarantine was launched, in addition to existing measures for entry into the country, such as diagnostic testing for symptomatic cases and facilities for 14 days and self-sufficiency measures. Additional diagnostic tests are done.

Meanwhile Global vaccine companies such as Pfizer, Bioentech, Modena, and AstraZeneca rely on the vaccine’s efficacy against the strain and future research for an accurate diagnosis.Went out to

Ugur Sahin, CEO of Bioentech, which developed the Corona 19 vaccine with Pfizer, said in an interview with local German media on the 27th: “The vaccine will also be effective against the Corona 19 strain.” [AP=연합뉴스]

On the 20th, CNN released a study on the efficacy of the British variant vaccine at the Waltard Army Research Institute of the US Department of Defense.

Reporter Seok Kyung-min [email protected]