A second coronavirus mutation discovered in the UK is “even more transmissible” than the first, according to UK health secretary Matt Hancock.
The new mutation was first revealed at a news conference on Wednesday. Hancock noted that the new strain was detected in the UK, but originated in South Africa.
“We have detected two cases of another new coronavirus variant here in the UK. Both are contacts of cases that have traveled from South Africa in the past few weeks,” said Hancock during the news conference. “This new variant is highly worrying because it is even more transmissible and appears to have undergone more mutation than the new variant that was discovered in the UK”
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Hancock’s comments come not long after he announced that the first coronavirus mutation was discovered in his country.
“We currently identify more than 1,000 cases with this variant predominantly in the south of England, although the cases have been identified in almost 60 different areas by local authorities,” said Hancock at a news conference last week. “We don’t know how far this is because of the new variant, but no matter what the cause, we have to take quick and decisive action that, unfortunately, is absolutely essential to control this deadly disease while the vaccine is released.”
On Sunday, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke about the virus’s first mutation and how tougher mitigation restrictions will be imposed in areas where cases of infection are increasing.
“The spread is being driven by the new variant of the virus,” said Johnson. “It seems to spread more easily and can be up to 70 percent more transmissible than the previous strain.”
According to data from the country’s Department of Health and Social Assistance, the UK has seen a steady increase in new cases, with more than 236,000 in the past seven days. Across the UK, there are now more than 2.1 million confirmed cases and at least 68,412 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University.
US health professionals said the first new variant of the virus may now be in the country.
“You really need to assume that it is already here and it is certainly not the dominant strain. But I would not be surprised if I were already here,” said Dr. Anthony Fauci, the country’s leading infectious disease specialist, of the first mutation.
On Monday, Admiral Brett Giroir, assistant secretary of health for the United States, said the virus mutation “may be in the United States and we have yet to detect it.”
Newsweek contacted Hancock and the UK Department of Health and Welfare for comment, but received no response prior to publication.