Variant B.1.1.7 of the coronavirus, also known as “British”, is spreading rapidly across Europe. Currently, it is already the dominant strain of incl. in Great Britain, Italy and Sweden, according to data from the European Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the GISAID database.
According to the GISAID database, in Italy, the British variant of the coronavirus was in 76,2 percent samplesthat have undergone genetic testing in the past four weeks. This is the highest rate in Europe – except for the UK, where it is 89,3 proc.
Option B.1.1.7 is, according to the new assessment of British experts, not only by 50-75 percent. more contagious, but also possibly associated with a higher risk of hospitalization and death.
- British, Brazilian and South African variant. Should you be afraid of them?
Apart from Italy and Great Britain, this strain is detected in more than half of the samples tested in this respect in Sweden (67,5%), Portugal (73,3%), Slovakia (71,1%) and Romanians (75%). However, in the case of the last three countries, the result may be less representative due to the low number of genetic tests carried out there.
As in the case of Poland, where 4 cases out of less than 5 conducted studies were detected in the last 50 weeks.
The most studies for coronavirus variants are carried out in Denmark and Iceland, where more than 10% of them are sequenced. all patient samples. In Denmark, the share of the British variant is approx. 21 proc.
In a recent report on the risks associated with new variants of the virus, the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) estimates that the risk of further spreading of B.1.1.7 across the continent is “very high”, which could lead to a significant increase in the number of victims of the pandemic.
ECDC also notes that while the data do not show that the British variant is significantly more resistant to current vaccines, a new version has been detected in the UK that could change that. This is the potential effect of “gaining” the E484K mutation – the same as the South African variant B.1351, for which vaccines are less effective. So far, this new British strain has only been detected in isolated cases in England.
- «Second-class vaccine»? Virologist about side effects
Meanwhile, data from GISAID indicate that the South African variant is not widespread in Europe so far. Most cases in the last 4 weeks were found in Belgium – 51 (4,5% of all tested samples), Switzerland – 28 (1,3%) and France – 26 (3,4%). In the remaining 16 European countries where its presence has been detected, these are isolated cases.
Read also:
- It is the first to investigate the effects of amantadine on COVID-19. “You cannot self-medicate”
- The number of those infected is growing. Dr. Sutkowski: It may be related to a lack of discipline
- One dose of the vaccine causes the body to react strongly. Good news from Israel
- The Czech Republic at the forefront of COVID-19 infections. What’s happening at our neighbor’s?
The content of the medTvoiLokony website is intended to improve, not replace, the contact between the Website User and their doctor. The website is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Before following the specialist knowledge, in particular medical advice, contained on our Website, you must consult a doctor. The Administrator does not bear any consequences resulting from the use of information contained on the Website. Do you need a medical consultation or an e-prescription? Go to halodoctor.pl, where you will get online help – quickly, safely and without leaving your home.Now you can use e-consultation also free of charge under the National Health Fund.