A new mutation of COVID-19 has occurred in more than 1,000 infected patients in the UK – and has been blamed for the rapid spread of the infectious disease.
The nation’s health secretary, Matt Hancock, unveiled the new form, saying it was behind “very sharp, deadly surges” in London and the counties around Kent and Essex.
“We have identified more than 1,000 such cases so far,” he said, adding that preliminary analysis indicates that it is growing faster than existing variables.
Hancock – who ordered a strict lockdown for the affected areas – said the UK had alerted the World Health Organization, and the UN health agency had confirmed it was investigating.
COVID-19 Genomics UK The consortium’s British scientists said they were investigating new strains to see if any of these changes were contributing to the increase in transmission.
As of 13 December, it had been found in 1,108 cases, Public Health England said.
The new type – named “VUI – 202012/01” by UK scientists – involves a genetic mutation in the “spike” protein.
“The mutation in this part of the spike protein makes the virus more contagious and spreads more easily among people,” Public Health England noted.
Dr Jeremy Farrar, director of the health charity Wellcome, told the BBC it could be serious – while Birmingham University expert Alan McNally warned people not to “go crazy”.
“It does not mean that it is more transmissible or more contagious or dangerous. It’s something to keep an eye on, “he told the broadcaster.
Noting the “huge effort” to study stress, he said, “It is important to have a calm and rational perspective.”
“Changes like this are quite common,” said Dr. Michael Ryan, the WHO’s head of emergency. Insisted there was nothing yet to confirm whether it was more lethal or spread more easily.
Health Secretary Hancock also stressed that “this new type of vaccine and its effects are not very likely to be vaccinated.”
Last week, the U.K. Kovid-19 became the first country in the world to start vaccinating.
With post wire
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