They warn that the new variant of the coronavirus could …



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The new variant of Covid-19, known as Brazil P.1, appeared in 9 of 10 virus samples sequenced in the state of Amazonas. Specialists have warned that it would be more contagious than the original.

“This new variant is probably already present in other parts of the country, and it is only a matter of time before it becomes dominant. In about a month, it should take precedence over the others in the follow-up that we do“, Warned infectologist Marcus Lacerda, from the Fiocruz foundation in the Amazon.

Although Brazil P.1 has been detected in Japan, it originates from the Brazilian state of Amazonas and is already dominant in its capital Manau. This situation reinforces the initial suspicion that it might be more contagious. In this sense, Felipe Naveca, who directs studies on viral mutations in this condition, said that “appeared in 51% of sequenced samples from December and now, as of January 13, in 91% of samples“.

In addition, it is spreading throughout the interior of the state. “We found it in 11 of the 13 municipalities we analyzed,” Naveca explained.

According to the researcher, the variant is a mutation of “one of the 18 lineages” of coronavirus which has circulated in the Amazon since the start of the pandemic. With the data collected so far, we can’t say it’s more deadlyAlthough the authorities do not rule out that its spread is linked to the dramatic increase in deaths and cases in the state of Amazonas.

Also, this Wednesday a team made up of specialists from the University of São Paulo (USP), the University of Oxford, King’s College and Harvard University published a report which argues that Brazil P.1 is responsible for the second wave of Covid -19 that emerged in Manaus.

For its part, Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) describes the epidemiological situation in Brazil as “disturbing“The agency ensured that in many parts of the country, about three quarters of intensive care beds are occupied by patients with Covid-19.

“Many patients in the city of Manaus are waiting for beds in hospitals and intensive care units because the increase in cases presents a challenge for the health system,” said Carissa Etienne, director of PAHO.

After being detected this month in Japan, Germany and the state of Minnesota, Brazil has been the target in recent days of measures to restrict flights to the United States, the United Kingdom, the Italy and Peru.

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