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What are the Indian, Brazil, South Africa and UK variants? What are the India, Brazil, South Africa and UK variants?
(17 days later)
A new variant of coronavirus, first found in India in late 2020, has been discovered in the UK. The world is carefully monitoring coronavirus for mutations that might help it spread, make people sicker or overpower vaccines.
Health officials say the genetic changes it has undergone might make it more contagious - and past Covid infection or current vaccines may not offer full protection against it. More studies are needed to be sure. Understanding new variants can help governments adjust vaccination programmes and keep the virus under control.
What is the Indian variant? Why does Covid mutate?
There are many thousands of different versions, or variants, of Covid circulating. All viruses change as they make copies of themselves to survive and spread.
More than 100 cases of the Indian variant (also known as B.1.617) have been confirmed in the UK. That may sound like a large number, but it is less than 1% of the Covid samples that have been analysed for their genetic make-up in the UK. Most changes are inconsequential, and some can even harm the virus. But others can make the disease more infectious or threatening - and these mutations tend to dominate.
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. If lots of its human hosts have gained immunity through infection or vaccination, a virus with mutations that can evade this protection will thrive.
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 to help prevent more spread. To work out whether a mutation is dangerous, scientists look for warning signs in the virus's genetic code, see how it behaves in a lab, and monitor its spread in people.
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. What do we know about the different variants?
Or that it is directly responsible for the recent surge in Covid-19 cases being seen in India. There are thousands of different variants of Covid circulating across the world.
What about the UK, Brazilian and South African variants? Those with the most potentially concerning changes are called "variants of concern" and kept under the closest watch by health officials, and include:
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) is prevalent in Britain, but has spread to more than 50 countries and appears to be mutating again
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 been identified in at least 20 other countries, including the UK
The South Africa variant (B.1.351) has found in at least 20 other countries, including the UK The Brazil variant (P.1) has spread to more than 10 other countries, including the UK
The Brazil variant (also known as P.1) has now been found in the UK In addition, a few worrying variants originally identified in India have been found circulating 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. Public Health England believes some of these cases aren't linked to international travel, and is investigating how people became infected.
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. The BBC has been told by experts that one particular version of the India variant, called B.1.617.2 appears to be more transmissible than the other Indian ones, and at least as transmissible as the Kent variant, and it could soon be added to the "variant of concern" list.
Coronavirus variants: The science explained There's also no clear evidence yet that it's directly responsible for the recent surge in Covid-19 cases in India.
Are the new variants 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 remains 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. But a virus being more infectious and equally dangerous will in itself lead to more deaths in an unvaccinated population.
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. Some research suggests the UK variant may be associated with a 30% higher risk of death in individuals, but the evidence is not conclusive.
The advice to avoid infection remains the same for all strains: wash your hands, keep your distance, wear a face covering and be vigilant about ventilation.
How do the new variants mutate?How do the new variants mutate?
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.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.
One mutation, called N501Y, shared by some of them, seems to make the virus better at infecting cells and spreading.One mutation, called N501Y, shared by some of them, seems to make the virus 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%. Some experts think the UK/Kent strain may be up to 70% more infectious - although research by Public Health England suggested it's between 30% and 50%.
The South Africa and Brazil variants have more potentially important changes in the spike protein. The South Africa and Brazil variants also have a key mutation, called E484K, that may help the virus evade antibodies, key parts of the immune system which help bodies fight off infection.
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. Experts recently found a small number of cases of the UK variant that have this change too.
Experts recently found a small number of cases of the UK variant that have this change too. The India variant also has some potentially important mutations (such as L452R) that might help it spread and overcome some immunity, which is why experts are studying it so urgently.
Where has the South Africa variant been found in the UK?
South Africa coronavirus variant: What's the risk?
UK variant has mutated again, scientists say
The Indian variant has some potentially important mutations (E484Q, L452R and P681R) that might help it escape some immunity, which is why experts are urgently studying it.
Will vaccines still work against variants?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 for earlier versions of coronavirus, but scientists believe they should still work, albeit potentially less well.
A recent study suggests the Brazilian variant may be resisting antibodies in people who've already had Covid and should have some immunity. One recent study suggests the Brazilian variant may resist antibodies in people who've already had Covid and should therefore have some immunity.
However, early lab results and real life data 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.
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 Kent/UK variant. It offers less protection against the South Africa variant - but should still protect against severe illness.
It offers less protection against the South Africa variant - but should still protect against severe illness. Some early results suggest the Moderna vaccine is effective against the South Africa variant, although the immune response triggered may be weaker and shorter-lived.
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. Experts are confident existing vaccines can be redesigned to better tackle emerging mutations.
Two new coronavirus vaccines awaiting approval - Novavax and Janssen - also appear to offer some variant protection. Do variants mean booster jabs are more likely?
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. The UK government has a deal with biopharmaceutical company CureVac to develop vaccines against future variants, and has pre-ordered 50 million doses.
The UK Government has announced a deal with biopharmaceutical company CureVac to develop vaccines against future variants, with a 50 million dose pre-order. Depending on how variants continue to develop, these could potentially be used to offer a booster vaccine to older or clinically vulnerable people later in the year.
Extra vaccines cash to future-proof UK - minister