[ad_1]
ON TOUR IN NORWAY: Almost all the tourists who participated in the trip with Ingvar’s trips were infected. Photo: Ingvar’s Travels
A mutated variant of the coronavirus may have contributed to the spread of the infection after the outbreak on the retired bus ride to southern Norway. The virus likely arrived in Norway just before the departure date, according to FHI.
The bus trip in question began on September 15, lasted six days and had 14 stops in a total of eight municipalities. Of the 40 people on board the bus, 37 were confirmed subsequently infected.
A total of 100 cases of contagion are linked to the bus trip, and the National Institute of Public Health (NIPH) does not rule out that they discover more. Five of those involved have been hospitalized so far.
FHI has now analyzed the genetic material of the coronavirus from several of the cases. This is how they detected a mutated variant of the virus:
– The virus belongs to a genetic subgroup and has unique mutations that have not been seen before in Norway. One of them could possibly increase the virus’s ability to infect cells and thus make it somewhat more contagious, said Health and Care Services Minister Bent Høie (H) during his corona briefing at the Storting on Tuesday.
According to FHI, it is not known how and when the virus entered the country, but they note that almost identical viruses have recently been seen in some other European countries. Additionally, there have been significant outbreaks of viruses with the same mutation in Australia.
– You have probably arrived in Norway just before this bus trip or in the near future. Further analysis should show which countries and how it got to Norway, says section leader Karoline Bragstad at FHI to VG.
– May affect infectivity
The mutated virus is called S477N in technical parlance and belongs to a genetic subgroup of the coronavirus called B.1.160.
More specifically, the virus has a change in the largest surface protein, the so-called spike protein. This protein is important for the virus’s ability to bind to human cells.
FHI department director Line Vold tells VG that earlier in the pandemic, variants of the SARS virus that belonged to the same subgroup were recorded. However, none of the viruses have had the same change in surface protein.
According to section leader Bragstad, FHI has no information indicating that this virus causes more serious illness.
– Viruses with this mutation can affect infectivity and, therefore, it is important to follow the evolution. New research is likely to provide more clarity on whether we had this virus present before the bus travel-related outbreak and whether we will see further spread in Norway with this variant, says section leader Karoline Bragstad at the National Institute of Health. Public.
Also, the infection is limited
During the bus ride outbreak, many close contacts became infected, which in turn led to smaller outbreaks locally. FHI believes that the change in the virus may have contributed to further spread.
– We record that some have been infected, but there may be other conditions that are important, not just the properties of the virus itself, says Vold.
The good news is that FHI, along with municipalities, appears to have gained control of the local outbreaks associated with bus travel. Thus, it has probably been possible to stop the spread of the mutated virus variant.
– It is very important that infection tracking around all confirmed COVID-19 cases is started quickly to limit the spread of COVID-19 and help keep the epidemic under control. Thanks to rapid detection, infection tracking, quarantine and measures, the municipalities involved have managed to limit further infection in this outbreak, Vold says.
The bus trip included 14 stops in the following counties; Rogaland, Agder, Telemark, Viken, Innlandet, Trøndelag, Møre og Romsdal and Vestland.
After the bus trip, both the bus company and the municipal chief in Sandnes confirmed that the company met the industry standard for infection control rules during the trip.
