Brazil has detected a new variant that could be a mutation of the Manaus strain and South Africa – Telam

Now authorities are looking for more cases of the new variant among hospitalized patients.

Brazil has detected a new variant of the coronavirus which could be a mutation of two potent strains present in the second wave in much of the world, the P1 of Manaus or Amazonas and that of South Africa, informed this Wednesday the government of the state of São Paulo.

The variant may be an evolution of the Amazon variant mixed with that of South Africa, the director of the Butantan public institute, Dimas Covas, said at a press conference.

The new variant was detected in a patient from the town of Sorocaba, inside the state of San Pablo, one of the most affected by the hospital collapse of the second wave of Covid-19.

Although it is similar to the South African strain, it is not excluded that it is a mutation of the Amazonian variant, which appeared in November in the city of Manaus, the largest in the southern jungle. -american.

“In Sorocaba, a variant has been identified which has been the subject of scientific work. This is a variant similar to South Africa despite the fact that the person has had no contact with travelers who have been to South Africa. that it is a variant of our P1 which is mutating towards the South African variant ”, declared Covas alongside the governor of São Paulo, Joao Doria.

Covas said labs should now follow up to determine if this possible mutation is present in other coronavirus patients or if it is an isolated case.

The recurring agglomerations recorded from November to February in Brazil lead specialists to warn against the emergence of new variants due to the lack of physical and social isolation.