Public health officials investigate strains in UK showing mutation

officials are investigating strains of coronavirus in the UK which have developed a mutation that has been worrying scientists.

Eleven cases in the bristol area have been identified as the variant that originally arose in kent but are now showing thee484k mutation.

A cluster of 32 cases in Liverpool also have the same mutation but relate to the original strain of coronavirus that has been around since the start of the pandemic.

The South African variant which also shows the mutation is under investigation in at least eight postcode areas of england where cases not linked to travel have been found.

A Public Health England (PHE) spokesman said: "PHE is monitoring the situation closely and all necessary public health interventions are being undertaken, including enhanced contact tracing and control measures ."

The E484K mutation has been shown to reduce the effectiveness of vaccines in preventing people contracting Covid-19.

However, public health experts believe current vaccines will still be effective against strains with the mutation, although at a lower level, and are good at preventing severe disease.

Regional PHE officials said the mutation was detected in Liverpool last month as part of cases among staff at Liverpool Women's Hospital. A cluster of an initial five cases was detected on january 10 among some staff who had attended an event out public side the hospital, believed to be a funeral.

Earlier, health secretary matt Hancock said testing was now under way in postcode areas affected by the mutation, alongside eight postcodeareas affected by the south african variant.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr Hancock said the Government is working closely with pharmaceutical firms in case vaccines need to be tweaked to accommodate new variants.

He said: "We're working with pharmaceutical companies and with the scientists to understand both whether the such modifications are needed, where they are needed, and how they can be brought to use on the frontline as quickly and safely as possible. This is obviously a very important consideration given the new variants that we've seen.”