NEW DELHI: A new highly infectious mutant double Covid-19 variant that was first detected in India has now been found in the UK, prompting calls for Boris Johnson to cancel his trip to India.
Variant B1617 was designated an “investigated variant” by Public Health England on Thursday, meaning it has epidemiological, immunological or pathogenic properties and requires investigation. PHE said that by April 14 it had identified 77 cases of the India variant in the UK – 73 cases in England and four in Scotland.
Variants first detected in Kent in the United Kingdom, Brazil and South Africa were later designated “variants of concern” in the United Kingdom. The Kent variant (United Kingdom) (also known as B117) remains the dominant variant in the United Kingdom.
PHE said: “The variant, first detected in India, includes a number of mutations, including E484Q, L452R and P681R.”
E484Q and L452R are found separately in other coronavirus variants, but were first found together in India.
“PHE has identified 77 cases of this variant in the UK and all appropriate public health interventions will be undertaken, including improved follow-up of contacts. PHE and international partners continue to monitor the situation closely, “said PHE.
Together, E484Q and L452R are known to be more infectious, more transmissible, and to evade antibodies. The India variant is likely to lead at least in part to the current exponential increase in cases in India putting pressure on India’s medical infrastructure.
Professor Christina Pagel, a member of Independent Sage, a group of independent scientists who provide scientific advice to the British government, who is the director of the UCL Operations Research Unit, wrote on Twitter: “B1617 is worrying because it has some potentially worrying mutations. which are not seen in Tulpini SA, Kent or Brazil. This variant could escape both the action of T cells and that of antibodies. India is going through a big growth – mix of new B117 and B1617. Johnson should not go on a trip to Delhi this month! madness! You cannot stream Covid. The situation in India is very bad and getting worse. It is frankly crazy that Bangladesh and Pakistan are on the red list in the UK, but India is not. ”
International visitors who have traveled to or from the UK Red List countries in the last 10 days will be denied entry to the UK. Only British citizens and those residing in the UK will be allowed to enter and will be required to enter a mandatory quarantine in the government-approved hotel for 10 days at a cost of GBP 1,750 (1.7 lakh) per adult, and be subjected to Covid-19 tests.
Pakistan and Bangladesh were added to the UK red list on April 9, but India has not yet been included in the list.
Variant B1617 was designated an “investigated variant” by Public Health England on Thursday, meaning it has epidemiological, immunological or pathogenic properties and requires investigation. PHE said that by April 14 it had identified 77 cases of the India variant in the UK – 73 cases in England and four in Scotland.
Variants first detected in Kent in the United Kingdom, Brazil and South Africa were later designated “variants of concern” in the United Kingdom. The Kent variant (United Kingdom) (also known as B117) remains the dominant variant in the United Kingdom.
PHE said: “The variant, first detected in India, includes a number of mutations, including E484Q, L452R and P681R.”
E484Q and L452R are found separately in other coronavirus variants, but were first found together in India.
“PHE has identified 77 cases of this variant in the UK and all appropriate public health interventions will be undertaken, including improved follow-up of contacts. PHE and international partners continue to monitor the situation closely, “said PHE.
Together, E484Q and L452R are known to be more infectious, more transmissible, and to evade antibodies. The India variant is likely to lead at least in part to the current exponential increase in cases in India putting pressure on India’s medical infrastructure.
Professor Christina Pagel, a member of Independent Sage, a group of independent scientists who provide scientific advice to the British government, who is the director of the UCL Operations Research Unit, wrote on Twitter: “B1617 is worrying because it has some potentially worrying mutations. which are not seen in Tulpini SA, Kent or Brazil. This variant could escape both the action of T cells and that of antibodies. India is going through a big growth – mix of new B117 and B1617. Johnson should not go on a trip to Delhi this month! madness! You cannot stream Covid. The situation in India is very bad and getting worse. It is frankly crazy that Bangladesh and Pakistan are on the red list in the UK, but India is not. ”
International visitors who have traveled to or from the UK Red List countries in the last 10 days will be denied entry to the UK. Only British citizens and those residing in the UK will be allowed to enter and will be required to enter a mandatory quarantine in the government-approved hotel for 10 days at a cost of GBP 1,750 (1.7 lakh) per adult, and be subjected to Covid-19 tests.
Pakistan and Bangladesh were added to the UK red list on April 9, but India has not yet been included in the list.