Japan announces detection of disturbing new strain – telam

Japan’s National Institute of Infectious Diseases on Friday announced the detection of a new strain of coronavirus, different from those previously identified in Britain, South Africa and Brazil, which has raised concern among authorities.

According to the organism, cases of contagion with the B.1.1.316 line have been identified, which presents the E484K mutation in the spike protein, also present in the South African and Brazilian variants. The G769V mutation was also detected in the B.1.1.316 line.

At the same time, he pointed out that the new mutation does not have that of N501Y in the spike protein, common to the three strains mentioned.

The press release notes that although the mutation occurred outside of Japan, his country of origin cannot be specified.

According to the data, cases of coronavirus of lineage B. 1.1.316 are detected more frequently in Bangladesh.

According to the newspaper Asahi, which cites sources in the scientific world, there are fears that the recorded mutations make them more resistant to certain vaccines developed, in particular, to Britain’s AstraZeneca, the Sputnik news agency reported.

The Secretary General of the Japanese Government, Katsunobu Kato, revealed during a press conference that 93 cases of contagion by this strain were detected on the national territory, of which two were confirmed on the arrival of the passengers at the airport.

All other cases have been confirmed in the Kanto region.

“Experts say there is a risk that the strain is more contagious than unmodified types and that if it continues to spread it could cause a drastic increase in infections,” the official warned.

In Japan, 151 cases of infection with British, South African and Brazilian strains have also been confirmed.

In December 2020, two lines of mutations specific to Japan only were identified.

The total number of people infected since the start of the epidemic has exceeded 424,000, with 7,370 deaths, according to the latest health report.