[ad_1]
The first South African coronavirus strain was recently identified in Lithuania B.1.351. It spreads much faster. People who get sick and get vaccinated can get infected and get sick again.
Data from foreign researchers suggests that one of the spike protein mutations can weaken antibodies, making vaccines less effective.
The British strain of coronavirus has previously been detected in Lithuania B.1.1.7. It is most dangerous for all age groups. Last year, this coronavirus strain competed with other dominant strains and became one of the most common in England, leading to increased morbidity.
For this reason, in December 2020, many European Union countries, including Lithuania, were temporarily banned from entering the UK.
– What strains of coronavirus currently dominate in Lithuania? – Lietuvos Rytas asked the Vilnius University professor, Vytautas Usonis.
– Additional genetic research on new strains has been launched in the country. At least several laboratories have confirmed that there are British and South African varieties in Lithuania. It is an indisputable fact that we are facing a genetically modified coronavirus.
It is too early to talk about how much more aggressive the South African coronavirus strain is, how fast it will spread or whether it will be more dominant than the British one.
– Is there any data on how many strains of coronavirus have already been detected in the world?
– In addition to the British and South African strains, a new strain of coronavirus has been identified in Europe in the so-called Amazon region of Brazil.
This mutation can be three times more contagious than the original form of the virus.
Virologists could probably point to more mutated strains as well. As a specialist in communicable diseases, the answer given by the protagonist of the movie “Tadas Blinda” would suffice: “There are many.”
Virologists know that even a single human body can have multiple strains of the same virus. They are caused by a genetic mutation because the virus replicates each time it multiplies.
The ability of viruses to constantly change causes many inconveniences.
There are several important things that need to be clarified for medical science.
First, the extent to which a genetic mutation can alter the characteristics of a virus. For example, we already know from the British strain of coronavirus that this pathogen is much more invasive: it adheres better to the mucosa and spreads faster.
Researchers are also debating the South African strain on whether it could lead to more severe symptoms and more complex forms of COVID-19 infection.
But we have no conclusions because the investigation is not complete yet.
– There are indications that the mutated coronavirus may be re-vaccinated. Does this mean that the vaccine is not a reliable protection?
– The coronavirus is known to enter the cells of the human mucosa using a protein called a needle. Consequently, the closer the mutations get to the structures that encode the coronavirus spike protein, the more the pathogen changes its properties.
If the immune system mechanisms that resulted from the COVID-19 disease or vaccination did not recognize the mutated coronavirus, it would be a big problem because people would be re-infected.
Foreign researchers acknowledge that the protection of vaccines against the South African strain of coronavirus is lower. We cannot ignore this fact.
– What should we do in this case: vaccinate or not vaccinate?
– We don’t have many options: we must continue to get vaccinated with vaccines approved by the US Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency.
We must understand that if a vaccine is registered, it is safe and effective.
On the other hand, the effectiveness of the vaccine is not an absolute measure, it depends on the objectives of the clinical trial and various circumstances, such as the fact that some studies are being carried out in summer with less coronavirus activity and others in winter. Vaccine trials can be supplemented with new data, so their efficacy rates can change over time.
Even if the vaccine is several tens of percent effective, the benefits of vaccination will outweigh the benefits of living without the vaccine.
– From what I understand, there is not much concern about the appearance of new strains of coronavirus in Lithuania? Are the quarantine requirements still the same?
– I don’t know if anxiety is the right word in this case, but we must not lose our vigilance.
The emergence of new varieties and increased morbidity again are the reasons why the release of quarantine measures in Lithuania has been suspended.
I will remind you that no one has revoked the need for personal protective equipment: it is necessary to continue to maintain social distance, use disinfectants, wash hands frequently, wear masks or respirators indoors.
Vaccination is necessary. The greater the immunity of the public, the more inhibited the intensity of the circulation of the virus, be it measles, influenza or other infectious diseases.
In the case of coronavirus infection, vaccines also help reduce the occurrence of genetic mutations, because the less viruses circulate, the fewer new strains are formed.
But as long as there is no public immunity established in the country, we must accept the quarantine, which puts a lot of pressure on many people; There is no other way.
Let us remember that in December of last year, almost 4,000 new cases were registered per day; We managed to reduce the morbidity rate to 300, unfortunately in recent weeks the situation in Lithuania has deteriorated again.
