By Michelle Roberts
Health editor, BBC News online
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New variants of the coronavirus are appearing, more infectious than the original that started the pandemic.
Scientists are urgently studying these mutant versions to understand the threat they pose.
What are these new variants?
Experts’ concerns currently focus on a small number of new variants of the coronavirus:
- AN
United Kingdom variant that became dominant in much of Britain and spread to more than 50 other countries
- A South African variant that has also been found in at least 20 other countries, including the United Kingdom
- A new variant of Brazil
It is not unexpected that new variants have been developed – all viruses mutate as they make new copies of themselves to spread and thrive.
There are many thousands of different versions, or variants, of Covid circulating.
Many of these differences are irrelevant. Some may even be detrimental to the virus’s survival. But some can make you more infectious or threatening.
How serious is that?
It is suspected that the UK, South Africa and Brazil variants may be much more contagious or easier to catch than previous versions.
All three have undergone changes in their peak protein – this is the part of the virus that binds to human cells.
As a result, these variants appear to be better at infecting cells and spreading.
Experts believe that the UK strain or “Kent” appeared in September and may be up to 70% more transmissible or infectious, although the latest Public Health England surveys indicate between 30% and 50%. It is this variant that generated the most recent blockages in the UK.
The South Africa variant appeared in October and has potentially more important changes in peak protein than the UK variant.
He has one of the same mutations in the UK, plus two more that scientists think may interfere more with the vaccine’s effectiveness. One can help the virus escape parts of the immune system called antibodies.
The UK has banned direct flights from South Africa and restrictions on flights to the country. Anyone who has recently traveled there, and anyone with whom she has contacted, is being instructed to quarantine immediately.
The Brazil variant appeared in July and was recently detected in four travelers arriving in Japan from Brazil. It has three major mutations in the peak protein that make it similar to that of South Africa.
The UK government announced a ban on flights from South America and Portugal as a result of this development.
Will vaccines still work?
Current vaccines have been designed around previous variants, but scientists are confident that they should still work against new ones, although perhaps not as well.
Laboratory studies are underway to verify this.
Vaccines train the body to attack various parts of the virus, but not just those sections of the peak protein.
In the future, more different variants may appear.
Even in the worst case, vaccines could be redesigned and adjusted to a better combination – in a matter of weeks or months if necessary, experts say.
As with flu vaccines, where a new injection is given each year to compensate for any changes in circulating flu viruses, something similar can happen with the coronavirus.
Are they more dangerous?
Currently, there is no evidence to suggest that any of them cause more serious illnesses.
Measures like washing your hands, keeping your distance from others and using a face cover will still help prevent infections and, as the new variants spread more easily, it is important to be more vigilant.
What is being done about it?
More variants will appear.
Scientists from around the world are watching and any new variants will be studied and monitored closely.
Researchers at the Kenya Medical Research Institute say they are looking at a new variant that is different from strains in the UK and South Africa, for example.
UK vaccine development minister Nadhim Zahawi said measures have already been put in place to produce another wave of vaccines, if necessary.