WHO: COVID-19 has four variants

WHO: COVID-19 has four variants

WHO: COVID-19 has four variants. WHO officially notified that the new coronavirus has four variants! On the evening of December 31, 2020 local time, WHO officially notified the main mutations of the new coronavirus since its emergence, including four variants.

From the end of January to the beginning of February 2020, the D614G mutation of the COVID-19 virus appeared, and then gradually replaced the originally discovered strain. By June 2020, this variant has become the main type of new coronavirus spreading worldwide. Studies have shown that compared with the initial strain, the variant has higher infectivity and transmission ability, but it will not cause more serious diseases, nor will it affect the effectiveness of existing diagnosis, treatment, vaccines and public health measures. Sex.

From August to September 2020, Denmark discovered a variant of the new coronavirus related to mink, named “Cluster 5” by the relevant Danish authorities, with a mutation that has not been observed before. According to preliminary studies conducted in Denmark, it is worrying that this variant may reduce the scope and duration of immune protection after natural infection or vaccination, and relevant evaluations are still ongoing.

At present, Denmark has only found 12 cases of human infection with this variant in September, and the variant does not seem to be widely spread.

On December 14, 2020, the United Kingdom reported to the WHO a variant of the new coronavirus named VOC 202012/01, which first appeared in southeast England. Preliminary epidemiological studies have shown that this variant has greater transmission power, but the severity of the disease (evaluated by length of hospitalization and 28-day mortality) and reinfection status has not changed. Most diagnostic tools are influences.

As of December 30, this variant has been found in 31 other countries and regions in five of the six WHO regions.

On December 18, 2020, a new coronavirus variant was detected in South Africa with the N501Y mutation. South Africa named it the 501Y.V2 variant, which is rapidly spreading in three provinces in South Africa.

Although the mutant new coronavirus discovered in the UK also has the N501Y mutation, analysis shows that it is a different variant from the mutant new coronavirus discovered in South Africa. Within a week after November 16, the South African health department found in routine genetic sequencing that this variant has largely replaced the Eastern Cape, Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces. Other new coronaviruses spread.

Preliminary studies have shown that this variant is associated with a higher viral load and may increase infectivity, but there is no evidence that it can cause more serious diseases. Further investigations are needed to understand the impact of this variant on virus transmission, diagnosis, vaccines, etc. As of December 30, the variant has been discovered in four countries outside of South Africa.

The WHO said that countries affected by the mutant new coronavirus are conducting epidemiological and virological investigations to understand its prevalence. The genetic data of the mutant new coronavirus discovered in the United Kingdom and South Africa have also been shared.

The WHO also pointed out that all viruses, including the new coronavirus, will change over time, and most mutations will not increase the infectivity of the virus, and sometimes even limit its spread. As the frequency of human and animal infections increases, the possibility of virus mutation also increases.

The WHO also emphasized that although preliminary assessments show that the mutated new coronaviruses found in the United Kingdom and South Africa will not increase the severity of the disease, it will lead to a higher morbidity rate and more hospitalizations and deaths. Therefore, stricter public policies are required. Hygiene measures to control the spread of these mutant viruses.

The WHO also recommends that countries increase routine genetic sequencing of the new coronavirus to better understand the spread of the virus and monitor variants.

(source:internet, reference only)

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