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What are the Brazil, South Africa and UK variants and will vaccines work? What are the Indian, Brazil, South Africa and UK variants?
(4 days later)
New variants of coronavirus have been emerging and circulating around the world. A new variant of coronavirus, first found in India, has been discovered in the UK.
Some of them appear to be more contagious and may escape some of the protection offered by past infection or vaccination. Health officials say the genetic changes it has undergone might make it more contagious - and past infection or current vaccines may not offer full protection. More studies are needed to be sure.
Experts are closely studying them to understand if vaccines may be need to be updated to be a better match. What is the Indian variant?
What are these new variants?
There are many thousands of different versions, or variants, of Covid circulating.There are many thousands of different versions, or variants, of Covid circulating.
Concerns focus on a few that may be more contagious and dodge immunity to some extent: More than 100 cases of the Indian variant (also known as B.1.617) have been confirmed in the UK.
A UK or Kent variant (also known as B.1.1.7) now dominant in much of Britain, has spread to more than 50 countries and appears to be mutating again Public Health England says it appears a few of the cases are not linked to international travel. Investigations into how they were acquired are continuing.
A South Africa variant (B.1.351) found in at least 20 other countries, including the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has cancelled a planned trip to India later this month and the country is being added to the government's travel ban red list.
A Brazil variant (also known as P.1) detected in four travellers to Japan which has now been found in the UK However, there is not yet enough data to say the Indian variant is of a "variant of concern" - a term used to describe the UK, Brazilian and South African variants.
It's not unexpected that new variants have developed - all viruses mutate as they make copies of themselves to spread and thrive. What about the UK, Brazilian and South African variants?
These strains of Covid-19 may be more contagious and dodge immunity to some extent.
The UK or Kent variant (also known as B.1.1.7) now dominant in much of Britain, has spread to more than 50 countries and appears to be mutating again
The South Africa variant (B.1.351) has found in at least 20 other countries, including the UK
The Brazil variant (also known as P.1) has now been found in the UK
It's not unexpected that new variants have developed. All viruses mutate as they make copies of themselves to spread and thrive.
Most of these differences are inconsequential. A few can even be harmful to the virus's survival. But some can make it more infectious or threatening.Most of these differences are inconsequential. A few can even be harmful to the virus's survival. But some can make it more infectious or threatening.
Coronavirus variants: The science explainedCoronavirus variants: The science explained
Are the new ones more dangerous? Are the new variants more dangerous?
There is no evidence that any of them cause much more serious illness for the vast majority of people who become infected.There is no evidence that any of them cause much more serious illness for the vast majority of people who become infected.
As with the original version, the risk is highest for people who are elderly or have significant underlying health conditions.As with the original version, the risk is highest for people who are elderly or have significant underlying health conditions.
For the UK variant there is some research suggesting it may be associated with a 30% higher risk of death. The evidence is not conclusive, however.For the UK variant there is some research suggesting it may be associated with a 30% higher risk of death. The evidence is not conclusive, however.
Measures such as washing your hands, keeping your distance from other people and wearing a face covering will still help prevent infections. Because the new variants appear to spread more easily it is important to be extra vigilant. To prevent infection, it's important to be extra vigilant about washing your hands, keeping your distance from other people and wearing a face covering.
What's happening to the virus? How do the new variants mutate?
The UK, South Africa and Brazil variants could be much more contagious or easy to catch. The UK, South Africa, Brazil and Indian variants have all undergone changes to their spike protein - the part of the virus which attaches to human cells.
All three have undergone changes to their spike protein - the part of the virus which attaches to human cells. One mutation, called N501Y, shared by some of them, seems to make the virus better at infecting cells and spreading.
As a result, they seem to be better at infecting cells and spreading. Experts think the UK/Kent strain may be up to 70% more transmissible or infectious - although research by Public Health England puts it between 30% and 50%.
Experts think the UK or "Kent" strain emerged in September and may be up to 70% more transmissible or infectious. Research by Public Health England puts it between 30% and 50%. The South Africa and Brazil variants have more potentially important changes in the spike protein.
The South Africa variant emerged in October, and has more potentially important changes in the spike protein. Experts recently found a small number of cases of the UK variant that have one of these more concerning changes too. They have a key mutation, called E484K, that may help the virus evade parts of the immune system, called antibodies, that can fight coronavirus based on experience from prior infection or a vaccine.
It involves a key mutation - called E484K - that may help the virus evade parts of the immune system, called antibodies, that can fight coronavirus based on experience from prior infection or a vaccine. Experts recently found a small number of cases of the UK variant that have this change too.
Where has the South Africa variant been found in the UK?Where has the South Africa variant been found in the UK?
South Africa coronavirus variant: What's the risk?South Africa coronavirus variant: What's the risk?
UK variant has mutated again, scientists sayUK variant has mutated again, scientists say
The Brazil variant emerged in July and has this E484K mutation too. We already know the Indian variant has some potentially important mutations (E484Q, L452R and P681R).
Will vaccines still work? Will vaccines still work against variants?
Current vaccines were designed around earlier versions of coronavirus, but scientists believe they should still work, although perhaps not quite as well.Current vaccines were designed around earlier versions of coronavirus, but scientists believe they should still work, although perhaps not quite as well.
A recent study suggests the Brazilian variant may be resisting antibodies in people who should have some immunity because they have caught and recovered from an earlier version of coronavirus. A recent study suggests the Brazilian variant may be resisting antibodies in people who've already had Covid and should have some immunity.
Early lab results and real life data, however, suggest the Pfizer vaccine can protect against the new variants, although slightly less effectively. However, early lab results and real life data suggest the Pfizer vaccine can protect against the new variants, although slightly less effectively.
Two new coronavirus vaccines that could be approved soon - one from Novavax and another from Janssen - appear to offer some protection too. Data from the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine team suggests it protects just as well against the new UK variant.
Data from the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine team suggests it protects just as well against the new UK variant. It offers less protection against the South Africa variant - although it should still protect against severe illness. It offers less protection against the South Africa variant - but should still protect against severe illness.
Early results from Moderna suggest its vaccine is effective against the South Africa variant, although the immune response may not be as strong or long-lasting. Early results suggest the Moderna vaccine is effective against the South Africa variant, although the immune response may not be as strong or long-lasting.
Variants could emerge in the future that are different again. Two new coronavirus vaccines awaiting approval - Novavax and Janssen - also appear to offer some variant protection.
Even in the worst case scenario, vaccines could be redesigned and tweaked to be a better match - in a matter of weeks or months, if necessary, say experts. Experts say with a new virus mutation, even in a worst case scenario, vaccines could be redesigned and tweaked in weeks or months to be better matches.
As with flu, where a new shot is given each year to account for any changes in circulating flu viruses, something similar could happen for coronavirus. The UK Government has announced a deal with biopharmaceutical company CureVac to develop vaccines against future variants, with a 50 million dose pre-order.
What is being done about it?
More variants will emerge.
Scientists around the world are on the look-out and any important ones will be closely studied and monitored.
Experts are updating coronavirus vaccines. The UK Government has announced a deal with biopharmaceutical company CureVac to develop vaccines against future variants, with a pre-order of 50 million doses.