Home » Health » Corona pandemic: increased search for mutations

Corona pandemic: increased search for mutations

The particularly contagious mutations of the coronavirus are spreading further: the British variant has now been detected in 50 countries. Only a few samples are still being examined in more detail; the EU wants to change that.

The EU states want to expand the search for mutations of the corona virus. This was announced by the Portuguese Minister of Health Marta Temido after a video conference with her EU colleagues. Accordingly, the EU disease control authority ECDC called on “all member states to monitor developments” and to report the discovery of modified viruses to the EU.

Only a few tests are checked for mutations

The new virus variants have “already had a significant impact in a number of European countries,” said EU Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides. The EU countries should “not fall into complacency” and “let the situation get out of hand”. The EU is ready to support the member states in “the genomic sequencing of samples – with expertise, infrastructure or money”.

In Germany, before the new variants appeared, corona tests were rarely checked for mutations. By the end of the year, on average only every 900th positive corona test had been subjected to such an analysis. In the UK, on ​​the other hand, the genetic makeup of the virus was sequenced for every 20th result. Therefore there are more precise data on the extent of the spread.

British variant already widespread

Several mutations of the coronavirus had become known in the past few weeks. In mid-December, Great Britain first reported a mutation which, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), has a “higher degree of transferability”.

The virus variant is also blamed for the fact that in parts of Britain clinics are on the verge of collapse. The so-called seven-day incidence – the number of new infections per 100,000 inhabitants within a week – is just under 600 nationwide. In the capital, London, the value is even more than 1000.

According to the WHO, the mutation has now been detected in 50 countries, including Germany. According to a study, it makes up about one percent of positive corona tests in France. According to the French Minister of Health Olivier Véra, the variant was not concentrated, but can be found everywhere in the country.

Mutation from Japan

Shortly after the first reports of the mutation in Great Britain, a variant from South Africa became known. The WHO also considers it to be possible to spread it more quickly. As she further announced, this virus variant has now spread in 20 countries. Infection in Germany with this variant has so far been detected in Baden-Württemberg and North Rhine-Westphalia.

A virus variant has recently also been detected in Japan that is causing concern, the WHO said. The further the virus spreads, the more opportunities there would be for mutations. Therefore, the emergence of further mutations must be expected.

Charité should check samples for mutations

A subsidiary of the Berlin Charité and the hospital operator Vivantes is to examine positive corona samples for mutations from Great Britain and South Africa in the future. The aim of the additional analyzes is to get an overview of the occurrence of the mutations, explained the Charité. For this purpose, PCR tests are to be examined for certain mutation markers.

The experts also hope to find out how contagious the mutations are. The additional analyzes are to be started this week. Samples from all over Germany are to be examined, as a spokeswoman for the Charité said.

Tagesschau reported on this topic on January 13, 2021 at 5:00 p.m.




– .

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.