AUS
NZ
UK
CA
USA
FRA
GER
ESP
ITA
NLD
PRT
SWE
GRC
IND
POL
BRA
ZAF
RUS
CHN
UAE
Summary
- Countries are tightening restriction amid the emergence of a new COVID-19 mutant in the United Kingdom.
- The WHO advised against a major alarm over the new coronavirus mutant saying that it is mutating slower than seasonal influenza.
- The WHO officials are investigating new tools to track the coronavirus.
UK officials have observed a new mutation of the coronavirus that is spreading rapidly and highlight that it is highly transmissible. Several countries across the globe are imposing lockdown and travel restriction to avoid the spread of the new, contagious mutant of COVID-19 virus. With Christmas and New Year looming, several countries across the globe are tightening restriction.
However, on 21 December 2020, the WHO alleviated the fear by stating that the coronavirus is mutating at a much slower rate as compared to seasonal influenza.
The global agency also added that it was unclear whether the emergence and spread of new mutant in the UK were due to the mutation or human behaviour.
WHO says that the virus mutation is not as rapid as seasonal influenza (Image Source: Shutterstock)
The mutations in seasonal influenza virus occur so frequently that researchers have to develop new vaccines to protect the people against the virus every year. WHO chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan stated that the virus is mutating at a slower speed compared to influenza.
Vaccines developed for COVID-19 Should Also works against New Mutant
The WHO said that COVID-19 vaccines being rolled out should be effective against the new strain. Further, the agency mentioned that the investigations are underway to make sure this.
So far, there were several mutations in coronavirus. However, none of them has made a substantial impact on the virus susceptibility for currently used medications or the vaccines which are under development.
New variant under investigation
The WHO said that the officials are investigating aspects of the new variant. Further, researchers are looking into whether the virus spreads more easily, causes severe sickness, as well as how the antibody reacts to the infection.
The agency anticipates getting more detail within upcoming weeks on the potential impact of the highly contagious new mutant of coronavirus strain.
On the identification of the new COVID-19 variant that prompted in the UK and other countries, WHO officials said that new methods to track the virus are under development.
The officials further added that the mutations had, so far, been much slower as compared to influenza and that even the new mutant in the UK was found to be much less contagious than other diseases such as mumps.
DO READ: After UK, New COVID-19 Strain Found in Australia, the Netherlands, and Denmark
