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Microbiologist Dr. Siouxsie Wiles says that a new mutated form of Covid-19 could put additional pressure on New Zealand’s managed quarantine and isolation systems when it arrives here.
Dr. Siouxsie Wiles. Source: 1 NEWS
However, Wiles softened that warning by saying that it is not yet known whether the mutated strain is, in fact, more infectious.
The BBC reports that there is currently no evidence that the new strain, called B.1.1.7, is more deadly, or that it will be less affected by the vaccines that are being rolled out, but there are some indications that it could be more infectious.
Wiles told 1 NEWS today that the virulence of the mutation, how infectious it is, is still being investigated.
“One of the things that is not yet clear is if it really is more infectious or if the increase in cases with this variant is due to people moving and the type of super spread events that only have to do with who is infected. rather than what they were infected with, “he said.
“It may be more contagious, but what is really important is that we know how to stop transmission, we know that you stop people’s movements, we know how to do it.
“If this is more contagious, and of course it is a concern, but it is more of a concern in those countries that are not really doing enough to stop transmission in the first place.”
Wiles said that the vaccines that have been developed for Covid-19 rely on only one aspect of the virus to be successful.
“The good thing about vaccines is that they make us produce more than one antibody, so hopefully if we produce an antibody that is for the part of the spike protein that has changed, we will still have other antibodies that will work,” he said. Wiles. .
“We will find this out if this strain is really taking off in the UK (UK has emergency approval to roll out the vaccine), then by following what happens to vaccinated people, and see if they get infected with this new strain. be something important. “
Speaking about other countries stopping flights from the UK in the wake of the new strain, Wiles said New Zealand can be safe due to our managed isolation and quarantine processes, but also added that a more virulent strain of Covid could be a good one. “stress test”. “.
“We have achieved isolation and many countries don’t have that, so they just trust people to isolate themselves, and people don’t isolate themselves, so I don’t think that’s a reason to prevent kiwis come home. ” she said.
“We have to remember: things are getting pretty desperate abroad.
“But for us it will be a real test; if it is really more contagious then we can see how it plays out in our MIQ facility.
“It could be a good stress test of our system.”
The Health Ministry confirmed today that the strain has yet to be found in New Zealand.
“The Health Ministry is confident that the current use of PPE, the testing strategy and the administered 14-day isolation of all arrivals from New Zealand is appropriate,” a spokesperson said.
“The Ministry continues to review these tools in light of any new and emerging evidence.
“The Ministry of Health maintains that our most important protection at the border is 14 days of isolation and / or quarantine, along with daily symptom checks and tests on day 3 and day 12 (with additional tests if symptomatic).
“We are also confident that our current PCR tests will detect this and any new strains.”
