Explained: What Is The New Strain Of The COVID-19 Detected In The UK?

“When the virus changes its method of attack, we must change our method of defence,” said British Prime Minister Boris Johnson at a Press Conference on 20 December 2020.

British PM Boris Johnson has placed London and the surrounding areas under the most stringent lockdown since March 2020 to contain the new strain of the SARS-CoV-2, effectively cancelling Christmas get-together. This announcement came days after he cited the aforementioned restrictions as 'inhuman'.

More than 40 countries in Europe, Asia, South America and the Middle East have closed their borders to travellers from the United Kingdom. As per the reports, the new strain in the virus has accounted for at least 60% of the new COVID-19 cases in London, UK.

About new strain of the Coronavirus

The new strain of the Sars-CoV-2 virus is known as VUI - 202012/01 (the first Variant Under Investigation in December 2020) or the lineage B.1.1.7.

This variant alarmed the scientists when it began to turn up more frequently in Coronavirus samples collected from parts of South England in December 2020. The variant has undergone 23 mutations.

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In preliminary studies, scientists and researchers have found that people who are infected with the new strain of the coronavirus carry a heightened viral load. In simple words, a higher concentration of the virus is found in the upper respiratory tract, which in other viral diseases is associated with more severe symptoms.

As per scientists, a similar variant has been detected in South Africa in 90% of the samples whose genetic sequences have been analysed since November 2020.

As of 13 December 2020, 1,108 cases with this variant have been identified, predominantly in the South and East of England.

Is the new strain of the virus deadly?

As per several scientists and researchers, the new strain of the virus is not more deadly but is 70% more transmissible compared to the previous mutations.

The new strain, B.1.1.7, is said to be spreading fast. The first case was detected in September 2020 and around a quarter of cases in London were mutant ones within 2 months. By mid-December, the said cases rose to nearly two-thirds.

As quoted by 3AW, Director of the Institute of Microbiology and Infection at the University of Birmingham, Professor Willem van Schaik stated that the new strain of the coronavirus is not more deadly but is contagious. This means that it is easier for this strain of the coronavirus to spread from one person to another.

From where the new strain of the coronavirus came?

The new strain of the virus has undergone several mutations and it might have emerged in a patient with a weakened immune system who was unable to beat the virus and his body became breeding ground for the virus to mutate.

Will vaccines work against the new strain of Coronavirus?

As per the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research Director General Shekhar Mande, the vaccines will work against the new strain of Coronavirus.

As quoted by India Today, Dr Jeremy Farrar, Director of Wellcome Trust stated that at present, there's no indication that the new strain of the Coronavirus would evade treatments and vaccines. However, the mutation reminds us of the power of the virus to adapt which cannot be ruled out in the future.

According to scientists, the Moderna, Pfizer and other vaccines that are currently in development will work on this variant.

Places where lineage B.1.1.7. has been detected

Apart from the United Kingdom, the new strain has been found in other countries such as Denmark, Italy and the Netherlands. Australia has also confirmed that the two travellers who travelled from Britain to New South Wales carried the mutated virus.

Is the new strain found in India?

No, as stated by Government officials, the new strain of the virus is not detected so far in India.

Rajesh Bhushan, Union Health Secretary while describing the curbs on flight services stated, "It is just a precautionary measure. This strain has not been found in India."

Speaking at a press briefing of the Health Ministry, Niti Ayog Member, Dr. V.K. Paul has confirmed that the new strain of the coronavirus B.1.1.7 has not been detected in India yet. He stated that there's no cause for concern and has asked people not to panic but remain vigilant.

He further added, "The new strain of Covid-19 in the United Kingdom has increased transmissibility. This mutation is not affecting the severity of the disease. Case fatality is not affected by this mutation."

In a piece of bad news, five travellers from the UK to India have tested COVID-19 positive. Their samples have been sent to the National Centre for Disease Control to be checked for the new coronavirus strain.

Sars-CoV-2 virus mutation

Scientists and researchers have stressed that all viruses mutate and for this reason, the vaccines need to be frequently updated. The COVID-19 virus which was first identified in China's Wuhan has undergone many mutations, most of which went unnoticed.

Two distinct mutations have been noted by the scientists-- H69/V70 deletion and the D614G.

The similarities between both the mutations are that they affect the spike proteins, binding the virus to the human cells and infecting them.

To sum up, all the viruses mutate and so is the case with Sars-CoV-2 virus which is responsible for the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. At present, scientists and researchers have not found the said variant of the virus more deadly but have found it 70% more transmissible than its previous versions. Also, the vaccines which are underway will work against the latest strain of the virus.

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