A strain of coronavirus with double mutation is already in Europe



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A total of 77 cases of the B.1.617 strain were detected in the UK on April 14, according to the latest data from English Public Health (PHE) released on Thursday. Of these, 73 were identified in England and the remaining four in Scotland.

This is the first time PHE has reported a new number of strains in the UK.

Currently, experts describe the Indian variant of the coronavirus as a “study strain.” If fears about it are confirmed, for example it becomes more contagious or more resistant to the body’s immune response, then it will be renamed “dangerous strain”.

In the UK, many of these dangerous varieties are already around, including Kent for the first time, as well as South Africa and Brazil.

Many different mutations are detected in these variants, although some overlap. For example, all three have the N501Y mutation, which experts say makes the virus more contagious, while the Brazilian and South African strains have the 484K mutation, which helps the virus partially bypass the body’s immune response, including the activated one. for some coronavirus vaccines. . This mutation was later observed in the Kent strain, then its status changed to dangerous.

Option B.1.617 was first detected in India, but has already reached other areas, such as those registered in California. Experts are concerned that it contains two mutations in the protein’s needle that increase the chances that the virus will bypass the body’s immune response. This strain is also believed to infect the body more easily.

Paul Hunter, a professor of medicine at the University of East Anglia, says the appearance of the Indian strain is concerning.

“These two cooperating mutations can cause significantly more problems than the South African and Brazilian strains, which only have one mutation that prevents the immune system. Also, this strain can be more difficult (than in Brazil and South Africa) to control with the vaccine”, says Professor Hunter.

Professor Christina Pagel, Head of the Department of Clinical Operations at the University of London and a member of the Independent Sage Expert Group, said the emergence of a new strain in the UK was concerning and wrote on Twitter that Prime Minister Boris Johnson should take measures. .

“We don’t yet know if this strain is resistant to the vaccines we currently have, but it even has some disturbing mutations.” It is absurd that India is not yet on the travel red list. After all, every day in the country 200 thousand are established. new cases, “said The Guardian, a professor.

The country’s Ministry of Health announced in late March a new strain of pandemic coronavirus with two mutations detected in India.

On Thursday, it was reported that a record 200,000 people a day were clarified in the country. – New cases of pandemic coronavirus infection.

With the country’s second major wave of pandemics continuing to rise, the number of COVID-19 cases detected per day has doubled in 10 days. The total number of infections detected in India is currently 14.1 million.

The day before, 1,038 deaths from COVID-19 were also registered in the country, increasing the total number of victims to almost 175,000, according to the Ministry of Health. However, the per capita figures for India are much lower than in many other countries.

The total number of confirmed cases of pandemic coronavirus infection in India this week surpassed the total number of COVID-19 cases in Brazil and is now the second largest in the world. Experts blame this on people’s reassurance about the virus and also on frustration.

India, which has allowed massive religious festivals, political rallies and spectator cricket competitions, has already registered nearly 2 million. new cases of COVID-19.

The strict lockdown has driven many people into poverty and a very severe economic slowdown a year ago, and the central government has wanted to avoid a hugely unpopular second lockdown. However, many states are already being forced to tighten measures to combat the pandemic, especially Maharashtra and its capital, Mumbai.

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