Japan has detected a new variant of the coronavirus “Diario La Capital de Mar del Plata

TOKYO, Japan – Japanese authorities have detected a new variant of the coronavirus in a traveler from the Philippines, which had already been discovered there and may pose a greater health risk than the most common strains, according to Japanese media.

The variant is different from those discovered in the UK, South Africa and Brazil, although like these, it could be more resistant to the immunity generated by available vaccines, according to details released by the Japanese ministry. of Health.

The new strain was detected in a man in his 60s who arrived in Japan via Narita airport and tested positive for Covid-19 despite showing no symptoms of the disease.

Japanese authorities have also indicated that this variant has already been identified in the central Philippines since the end of January, where since then more than thirty infections have been recorded.

Japan’s health ministry has warned of the increase seen in the country in recent weeks in infections with new variants of the coronavirus, including those from the United Kingdom, South Africa and Brazil.

In order to stop the spread of these variants, Japan has kept its borders closed since the end of December except for the return of Japanese citizens or foreigners residing in the Asian country.

Japan has so far accumulated more than 445,600 coronavirus infections and 8,522 deaths.

EFE.