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British Minister of Health Matt hancock says he is “incredibly concerned” about the variant of the coronavirus discovered in South Africa, which has already reached the UK, reports the BBC. “It’s an even bigger problem” than the new strain in the UK, he said. Hancock in an interview with BBC Radio.
The British version is much more contagious and has already spread to most European countries.
Due to the new variant detected in South Africa, which arrived in the UK at the end of last year, the UK restricted flights to and from this country and decided that all those arriving in the UK from South Africa should be quarantined.
„It is a very, very serious problem, “he said. Hancock.
This, given that an Oxford University researcher said there is “a big question mark” regarding the effectiveness of vaccines against the South African variant of SARS-CoV2.
„I think the vaccine will be effective against the Kent strain (new UK version will not). I don’t know how it relates to the South African version, here we have a big question mark, “he said. Sir John Bell.
ORScientists believe that the British version of the coronavirus comes from south-east England. The mutation facilitates transmission of the virus, although it does not appear to cause more serious symptoms.
Scientists say the new South African variant is different from others circulating in the country because it has multiple mutations in the protein called “spike” that the virus uses to infect cells in the human body.
„The mutations associated with the South African form represent substantial changes in the structure of the protein ”, explained the Oxford researcher.
Bell said: the Times Radio said that if the vaccine doesn’t work against the South African version, it could be adapted.
„It may take a month or six weeks to get a new vaccine.“said the teacher.
Editing: Monica Bonea
