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What are the India, Brazil, South Africa and UK variants? | What are the India, Brazil, South Africa and UK variants? |
(6 days later) | |
A coronavirus variant, first identified in India, is causing a spike in cases in some parts of the UK and experts are worried. | A coronavirus variant, first identified in India, is causing a spike in cases in some parts of the UK and experts are worried. |
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said evidence suggests it is more transmissible than even the Kent variant that has dominated the UK. | Prime Minister Boris Johnson said evidence suggests it is more transmissible than even the Kent variant that has dominated the UK. |
He has said it could pose "serious disruption" to the final stage of easing Covid restrictions in England on 21 June. | |
What is happening with the India variant in the UK? | What is happening with the India variant in the UK? |
There are a few "India" variants, but one called B.1.617.2 appears to be spreading more quickly in the UK. | There are a few "India" variants, but one called B.1.617.2 appears to be spreading more quickly in the UK. |
Surge testing is being deployed in some areas, including Bolton and Blackburn, to identify infections - but it may not be stopping the spread. | Surge testing is being deployed in some areas, including Bolton and Blackburn, to identify infections - but it may not be stopping the spread. |
Second jabs for all over-50s (and the clinically vulnerable) in England are now being brought forward to protect more people, faster. Second doses will come eight weeks after the first, rather than 11-12 weeks. | |
Latest research suggests the Pfizer and AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccines are highly effective against the variant after two doses, but protection from one dose appears to be reduced. | |
What do we know about the different variants? | What do we know about the different variants? |
There are thousands of different variants of Covid circulating across the world. | There are thousands of different variants of Covid circulating across the world. |
Viruses mutate all the time and most changes are inconsequential. Some even harm the virus. But others can make the disease more infectious or threatening - and these mutations tend to dominate. | Viruses mutate all the time and most changes are inconsequential. Some even harm the virus. But others can make the disease more infectious or threatening - and these mutations tend to dominate. |
Those with the most potentially concerning changes are called "variants of concern" and kept under the closest watch by health officials, and include: | Those with the most potentially concerning changes are called "variants of concern" and kept under the closest watch by health officials, and include: |
The India variant (B.1.617.2) of which more than 3,000 cases have been seen in across the UK | |
The UK or Kent variant (also known as B.1.1.7) is prevalent in Britain - with more than 200,000 cases identified - and 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) is prevalent in Britain - with more than 200,000 cases identified - and 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 been identified 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 (P.1) has spread to more than 10 other countries, including the UK |
Are they more dangerous? | Are they more dangerous? |
There is no evidence that any of them cause much more serious illness for the vast majority of people. | There is no evidence that any of them cause much more serious illness for the vast majority of people. |
As with the original version, the risk remains 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. |
But a virus being more infectious and equally dangerous will in itself lead to more deaths in an unvaccinated population. | But a virus being more infectious and equally dangerous will in itself lead to more deaths in an unvaccinated population. |
The India variant is "more transmissible" than the UK/Kent one, said England's Chief Medical Officer Prof Chris Whitty. | The India variant is "more transmissible" than the UK/Kent one, said England's Chief Medical Officer Prof Chris Whitty. |
"We expect, over time, this variant to overtake and come to dominate in the UK." | "We expect, over time, this variant to overtake and come to dominate in the UK." |
Some research suggests the UK variant may be associated with a 30% higher risk of death in individuals, but the evidence is not conclusive. | 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. | 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 are the mutants behaving? | How are the mutants behaving? |
The India, UK, South Africa and Brazil variants have all undergone changes to their spike protein - the part of the virus which attaches to human cells. | The India, UK, South Africa and Brazil variants have all undergone changes to their spike protein - the part of the virus which attaches to human cells. |
The India variant has some potentially important ones (such as L452R) that might make it spread more easily. | The India variant has some potentially important ones (such as L452R) that might make it spread more easily. |
There is no evidence to indicate it causes more severe disease or might make current vaccines less effective, say UK officials. | |
The World Health Organization, meanwhile, has classified another, similar variant that is also circulating in India - called B.1.617 - as a variant of concern. | The World Health Organization, meanwhile, has classified another, similar variant that is also circulating in India - called B.1.617 - as a variant of concern. |
One mutation, called N501Y, shared by the UK, Brazil and South Africa variant seems to make the virus better at infecting cells and spreading. | One mutation, called N501Y, shared by the UK, Brazil and South Africa variant seems to make the virus better at infecting cells and spreading. |
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%. | 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 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. | 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. |
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. |
Will vaccines still work against variants? | Will vaccines still work against variants? |
Current vaccines were designed for earlier versions of coronavirus, but scientists believe they should work, albeit potentially less well. | |
Latest research suggests two doses of either the Pfizer or AstraZeneca vaccine still protect people from getting ill with the India variant. | |
Early lab results and real life data suggest the Pfizer vaccine can protect against the new variants, although slightly less effectively. | 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 Kent/UK variant. It offers less protection against the South Africa variant - but should still protect against severe illness. | 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. |
One recent study suggests the Brazilian variant may resist antibodies in people who've recovered from Covid before. | |
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. | 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. |
Do variants mean booster jabs are more likely? | Do variants mean booster jabs are more likely? |
Experts are confident existing vaccines can be redesigned to better tackle emerging mutations. | Experts are confident existing vaccines can be redesigned to better tackle emerging mutations. |
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 a deal with biopharmaceutical company CureVac to develop vaccines against future variants, and has pre-ordered 50 million doses. |
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. | 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 | Extra vaccines cash to future-proof UK - minister |