Warning as Brazil strain reaches UK
THE first cases of a ‘worrying’ new variant of coronavirus have been identified in the UK.
The Manaus P1 strain, first detected in the Brazilian city, may spread more rapidly and respond less well to existing vaccines, health officials warned.
Up to six cases of the variant have been identified in Britain – three in England and three in Scotland – it emerged yesterday.
The first two cases are from one household in south Gloucestershire with a history of travel to Brazil but the third is not linked. The location of that individual is unknown, as Public Health England (PHE) says the person did not complete their test registration card so followup details are unavailable.
Officials are asking anyone who took a test on February 12 or 13 and who has not received a result or has an uncompleted test registration card to come forward immediately.
Dr Susan Hopkins, PHE’s strategic response director for Covid-19, said: ‘We have identified these cases thanks to the UK’s advanced sequencing capabilities which means we are finding more variants and mutations than many other countries and are, therefore, able to take action quickly.
‘The important thing to remember is that Covid-19, no matter what variant it is, spreads in the same way. That means the measures to stop it spreading do not change.’
The World Health Organization has been informed of the cases. The variant has been designated ‘of concern’ as it shares key mutations with the variant detected in South Africa.