Dr Preston said: “The ’South African’ variant is distinct from the UK variant, but both contain an unusually high number of mutations compared to other SARS-CoV-2 lineages.” A typical “new strain” might have a handful of mutations, but the British one has 17, while the South African variant has between 10 and 20. The health app monitors the symptoms and spread of COVID-19 through the daily health reports logged by millions of users. And anyone who had visited South Africa prior to December 23 had to quarantine immediately. In recent months, a handful of "concerning" new coronavirus variants have emerged, sparking fears they may be more transmissible, lethal or evade immunity acquired by prior infection or vaccines. Like the original form of Covid, symptoms of Covid-19 include a high temperature, continuous cough and loss of taste or smell. Anyone who tries to conceal their arrival from a red list country face jail sentences of up to 10 years, while those who try to avoid the mandatory self-isolation in a hotel will face a fine of up to £10,000. Positive cases will be analysed to see if they are caused by the South African variant. Researchers say this could be available in as little as a year. “Some of these mutations change the S protein, which is cause for concern,” Dr Preston said. Liège University researchers spotted the variant, which is called B.1.214, because of a mutation which had never been seen in Belgium before, broadcaster VRT reported. The trouble is they are resource intensive and require strong administrative competence and advance planning. There are number of coronavirus 'variants of concern'. Closing borders completely is never a good move for a trading nation. Read more: From transmission to efficacy, the Oxford, Pfizer and other Covid vaccines compared. This was initially detected in early August 2020 and, as of early April, has been found in at least 60 other countries, including the UK. The variant found in Kent, known as B.1.1.7 or VOC 202012/01, which emerged in September 2020 and became widespread at the end of the year. Sir Patrick Vallance, the chief scientific adviser, suggested the Kent variant might increase the case fatality rate (CFR) by 30 per cent. The South Africa variant, was first detected in the UK in December. That's the information we have so far, and studies are ongoing," said Dr Van Kerhove. The spike protein is on the outer surface of the viral particle. Sir Patrick told a Downing Street briefing in January: "It may be that it binds more solidly to the receptor for the virus and gets into cells more easily as a result. Others warn that once in place, such policies can be hard to wind down. Critics warn it will only work if all foreign travel is covered and, even then, only if the Home Office can get the execution of the policy right. Scientists behind the ZOE Symptom Tracker App previously said that kids are most like to have fatigue, headache, fever, sore throat and loss of appetite. Labour MP Yvette Coopet, the chairwoman of the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee, said: “Rightly, the Government has stopped direct flights from South Africa. Protect yourself and your family by learning more about Global Health Security. He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “RNA viruses mutate, we know that, they continue to mutate – they have mutated in the past and they will mutate in the future. The variant was first found in the country in December and experts have warned that it can spread at a faster rate than other strains - but where has it been detected in the UK and how will you know if you have caught it? One person coming back from an African country may have triggered more than 70 cases of the South African variant, it has been reported. Genomic sequencing has identified a mutation of the spike protein, both in the original strain and the newer Kent variant of the virus. WHO's Executive Director Mike Ryan said the variant transmitted in the same way - through respiratory droplets from coughing or in the breath, and from infected surfaces. All have arisen in areas where there have been sharp recent spikes in Covid cases. It is a focus for coronavirus vaccines, and so if it changes, it could affect how vaccines work. But some are in disagreement and warned that halting flights was not even to stop the new strain entering the UK. Health workers have detected South African Covid variant cases in the UK, spiking concerns about transmission. Dr Preston said: “The ’South African’ variant is distinct from the UK variant, but both contain an unusually high number of mutations compared to other SARS-CoV-2 lineages.”. Exclusive: 'Universal vaccine' that can conquer all variants could be available within a year thanks to British scientists. The Chief Scientific Adviser said: “There is nothing yet to suggest that’s the case. You can read the full study here. ONS Research carried out in England reported that a cough, fatigue, muscle pain and sore throat may be more common in people who test positive for the Kent strain. That's very good news. The three main coronavirus symptoms are a new persistent cough, a high temperature and a loss of taste and smell (anosmia). The mutations in this virus mean it's possible it can reinfect a person who has already recovered from Covid-19, according to Professor Peter Horby, who heads the Government’s New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (NERVTAG). Another complexity is that vaccines will have to cover off more than one variant as they evolve, as well as existing strains. The South African variant may cause muscle or body pain, chronic fatigue, and dryness of eyes and mouth in addition to classic COVID-19 symptoms. The Government is implementing an Australia and New Zealand-style hotel quarantine for travellers arriving in the UK from selected countries in order to prevent new variants being imported. Dr Simon Clarke of the University of Reading told The Guardian: “We don’t yet know how well this [new] variant will spread, but if it is successful it can be presumed that immunity from any vaccine or previous infection will be blunted. Viruses mutate all the time: around 4,000 Sars-CoV-2 variants have been detected, according to Vaccines Minister Nadhim Zahawi speaking in February. Mutations are normal in any evolution of a virus over time. "Do you really need to go for that shopping or have you got enough in? Households within the ME15 area will be visited by staff from Kent Police, Maidstone Borough Council, Kent Fire and Rescue and other support agencies. Experts from Public Health England (PHE) are now hoping to break any chains of transmission. For flu there is a sophisticated global surveillance process in which new variants are spotted in advance and vaccines adjusted accordingly. Around 350,000 people over the age of 16 in eight postcodes are urged to take a Covid-19 test - even if they don't have symptoms. There are three that have sparked the most unease: There have been reports of a number of other variants with worrisome mutations, including in the Philippines, India, and a new variant called B1525 identified in the UK, which does a lot of genomic testing. "We would expect we're seeing the tip of the iceberg of community transmission.". This variant was first detected in the United Kingdom towards the end of 2020. “I think that until we know more about these variants, any variants which carry E484K should be subject to surge testing as it seems to confer resistance to immunity, however that is generated.”. DOOR-TO-DOOR Covid-19 testers are hitting several UK hotspots - after 11 Brits caught the South African strain without having travelled there. You can check how many cases of coronavirus there are in your local area by using the map tool below: Here's what we know so far following the confirmation of these variants in the UK. Here our Global Health Security team examine what that means. South Africa Covid-19 variant: what we know about symptoms, risks and London cases There are number of coronavirus 'variants of concern'. Scientists have warned the mutation, named 501YV2, is feared to be at least 50 per cent more contagious, with hundreds more undetected cases thought to be in the country. Public Health England said the variant contains a number of notable mutations, including the E484K spike protein found in the Manaus variant. As such, many vaccine manufacturers have already announce plans to alter their jabs to take them into account - with boosters available as soon as this autumn, according to the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab manufacturers. The E484K mutation resembles that seen in the South African and Brazilian variants, the part which locks on to human cells - but they are not identical. It is possible that in the future, we will need to adjust our vaccines so they are perfect against the strains in circulation. But it also shares a key mutation with the South Africa variant - called E484K - which is thought to evade the antibody response triggered by vaccination or natural infection. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) last week revealed that people with the UK variant of the virus displayed different symptoms, but the ONS has not yet released any research that suggests symptoms are different for people with the South African strain. Key among them is the stickiness of the mutation and the way it gets into cells and replicates. The case of the South African variant cannot be traced back to international travel, Brent Council's public health chief said. Some 44 cases of South African variant were found in Wandsworth and Lambeth. Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates. But the first wave shows that is not enough. Please check the NHS website for the full list of symptoms. And Belgian scientists also discovered a new variant on Mar 22, which is believed to have originated in sub-Saharan Africa. Today Universities Minister Michelle Donelan said the development was "deeply concerning" and urged people to stay at home. Pfizer and AstraZeneca also think their vaccines will still work against the UK variant. Concerns over the South African variant and a deadlier, lesser-known strain first identified in Nigeria are rising among government scientific advisors after a sharp increase in cases of both in the UK over the past week. ‘On the edge of survival’: Madagascar on the brink of famine after worst drought in 40 years, Coronavirus latest news: Boris Johnson vows ‘very draconian’ action against future variants, Bolton now a vaccination hotspot but fears over Indian Covid variant continue to grow, ‘There’s a big difference between the first variant and this one’: Mozambique’s Covid crisis, variant called B1525 identified in the UK, 'Universal vaccine' that can conquer all variants could be available within a year thanks to British scientists. As it stands, Covid symptoms, no matter what the variant, to look out for are a high temperature, a new continuous cough and loss or change to you senses. Dr Melanie Smith, Brent's director of public health, added: “We’re encouraging all those living in the enhanced testing area to get tested so we can see how far – if at all – the virus has spread. The South African variant of Covid-19 has raised the alarm because, as with the new UK variant, it is thought to be considerably more infectious than previous versions of the virus – … People who have tested positive for the new UK and South African strains have had more viral particles on their swabs - indicating a higher viral load and therefore contagiousness - but this could just be a coincidence or because they were swabbed early in their disease. Dr Simon Clarke, an associate professor in cellular microbiology at the University of Reading, said it is hard to track cases of the South African variant due to a testing issue. Prof Young said: “Variants of SARS-CoV-2 have been around since the beginning of the pandemic and are a product of the natural process by which viruses develop and adapt to their hosts as they replicate. Mr Hancock said: “It is vital that we do all we can to stop transmission of this variant and I strongly urge everyone in these areas to get tested, whether you have symptoms or not. People with symptoms are urged to book a test in the usual way. Moderna announced on Jan 25 that its Covid-19 vaccine produced virus-neutralising antibodies in laboratory tests against new coronavirus variants found in the UK. It includes parts of Surrey, London, the West Midlands, East of England, South East and North West. Or it could be because people who have it have a higher viral load, which makes them more infectious. One mutation, called N501Y, shared by the UK, Brazil and South Africa variant seems to make the virus better at infecting cells and spreading. Coronavirus vaccines are likely to still be effective against the South African variant. The strain from South Africa appears to spread faster, possibly more than the UK one, according to Health Secretary Matt Hancock. P.1 was first detected circulating in Manaus, northern Brazil, in December and has since been picked up in some 30 other countries - but mainly in travellers. The same is true of the new, but as yet unlicensed, Novavax vaccine. Cases have now been detected in the UK, France, Finland, Norway, Switzerland, Japan, Austria and Zambia. In theory it should be quite straightforward. New strains may make vaccines less effective, because the immune system does not recognise the new variant when it infects the body. "We have no indication that there's an impact on the vaccines that are being rolled out. A variant called B1525 has been detected in various countries around the world, including 196 cases in the UK. A typical “new strain” might have a handful of mutations, but the British one has 17, while the South African variant has between 10 and 20. This could be for a number of reasons - it may be because the mutations give it a biological advantage. A second, less worrying variant from Brazil, called P2, was found in the UK in January. Could you work from home, have that extra conversation with your employer?". The variant has now been identified in … Coronavirus latest news: We are 'masters of our own fate' in face of rising variant cases, Matt Hancock says. Surge testing is being extended in London after another case of the South African coronavirus variant was detected. It is more transmissible than the original variant. We urge you to turn off your ad blocker for The Telegraph website so that you can continue to access our quality content in the future. "In Brazil where there is a different variant - which was badly hit in the first wave - there was a lot of reinfection there and that's what also seems to potentially be the case with this variant in South Africa.". It is known as B.1.1.28.1 or more commonly P.1, and 30 countries had reported cases as of March 1 - including the UK. “Most of these mutations have no effect on the behaviour of the virus but very occasionally they can improve the ability of the virus to infect and/or become more resistant to the body’s immune response.”. Hit hard and early This development sounds alarming - with just a … What makes the latest two from the UK and South Africa so interesting is the speed at which they became “prominent”, causing lots of cases and suddenly. “Those two reasons are why this virus is a worry, it may be more infectious and so make control difficult, and these three mutations in the receptor binding domain may have an effect on the ability of antibodies to neutralise the virus.". The only way to know how many cases of Covid are caused by this new strain is through genetic sequencing, a laboratory process which is used on only 10 per cent of tests for research purposes. “It’s worth remembering that when a vaccine is given you don’t just make one antibody against one bit, you make lots of antibodies against lots of different bits, and so it’s unlikely that all of that will be escaped by any mutations. As a new virus, it may also mutate less predictably. “It has rapidly spread become the dominant virus variant in the Eastern and Western Cape provinces.”. It is also thought to be more contagious than the original strain of Covid, similar to the Kent strain that fuelled a rise in cases in Britain in recent months. https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/south-africa-variant-15-signs-23429227 The first cases in the UK were discovered on December 23 and were thought to have been contacts of people who had recently been to South Africa. It may have some overall effect on efficacy but we don’t know.”. Linda Bauld, professor of public health at the University of Edinburgh, said it may be possible for people to become infected with the South African variant even if they have had Covid-19 in the past.
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