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The Santara Clinics laboratory of the Vilnius University Hospital (VULSK) reports that 190 cases were detected among them, caused by the B.1.351 strain (tests carried out on March 25):
1. A sample from Vilnius County (March 16). Sequences were submitted after re-detection in a special selective PCR assay after detection of the N501Y mutation.
2. A sample from Vilnius County (March 20). Sequencing included VULSK in the laboratory after detection of the E484K mutation in a special selective PCR assay.
3. A sample from Vilnius County (March 15). Stuck in a routine sequence reading sample.
“On Tuesday (March 23), NVSPL reported two cases of the B.1.351 (South Africa) virus strain SARS-CoV-2 from Vilnius (March 8) and Kaunas (March 2) counties during sequencing. Both cases corresponded to separate episodes of introduction of this strain, ”says genomic epidemiologist Dr. Gytis Dudas.
VULSK also reported 76 new cases caused by strain B.1.1.7. B.1.1.7 constitutes 67% (64/96) Vilnius, 40% (2/5) Kaunas, 18% (2/11) Alytus, 13% (4/31) Utena, 33% (1/3) Tauragė and 33% (3/9) of the Panevėžys County samples.
Sequencing data performed in the laboratory of the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences this week (research conducted on March 25) shows that 3 cases caused by varieties B.1.1.7 (“British”) were identified among 23 samples. B.1.1.7 consists of 50% (1/2) samples from Kaunas, 17% (1/6) from Marijampolė and 100% (1/1) from Panevėžys county.
To date, a total of 1,821 samples have been sequenced and 304 cases of virus lines B.1.1.7 and 5 B.1.351 have been detected in Lithuania, according to a sequencing project coordinated by NVSPL.
G. Doubts tells more about the virus strains and the consequences of their spread.
The B.1.351 strain, first detected in the Republic of South Africa, is one of several SARS-CoV-2 strains of current concern. Among the many mutations available in this strain, several stand out in the viral spike (S) protein: N501Y, K417N and E484K. Two of them (K417N and E484K) are associated with a lower laboratory efficacy of antibodies to neutralize the virus. This means that there is an increased risk of reinfection with this strain if you have been vaccinated with other strains (lacking the K417N and E484K mutations mentioned above) or with currently registered vaccines. So far, there is no unequivocal evidence that, similar to B.1.1.7, the B.1.351 strain would spread faster or cause higher mortality.
In order to determine the prevalence of the “British” and “South African” variants B.1.1.7 B.1.351 in the country and to allow the early prevention of the spread of these variants, Santara Clinics performs all positive cases of SARS -CoV-2 N501Y, 69-70del and E484K virus mutation sample survey program. It is planned to expand the aforementioned program throughout Lithuania.
We remind you that the first 2 cases of the South African variety in Lithuania were reported on Tuesday. In response to the spread of dangerous mutations in the virus, the country’s Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė spoke about the stricter quarantine measures that were adopted on Friday. The restrictions on movement between municipalities will re-enter into force in Lithuania from Saturday.
