The virus variant in the UK has developed with regard to the new mutation in a small number of cases

LONDON (Reuters) – The British version of the coronavirus has developed a new one, related to the mutation in a small number of cases, which scientists said makes it similar to South African and Brazilian variants and could reduce the effectiveness of vaccines.

The appearance of the mutation for the first time discovered in Great Britain highlights how complicated it will be to get out of the COVID-19 blockade even after the launch of the vaccines.

Public Health England said there were 11 reports of the UK variant showing the E484K mutation, mainly in the south-west of England.

The E484K mutation, which occurs on the spike protein of the virus, is the same change as the variants in South Africa and Brazil that have caused international concern.

“PHE is closely monitoring the situation and all necessary public health interventions are being taken, including improved follow-up and contact control measures,” said a PHE spokesman.

Several laboratory studies have found that vaccines and antibody therapy are less effective against the South African variant.

In contrast, early evidence showed that vaccines worked just as well against the UK variant, which initially did not have the E484K mutation.

Health Minister Matt Hancock said it was too early to say the impact of the variants on vaccines, but there have been reports of worrying changes in Bristol and Liverpool.

“We must continue to act with caution, not least because of the renewed challenges posed by new variants of coronavirus,” he told lawmakers.

Calum Semple, who is part of a group advising the British government, told the BBC that E484K was “the most worrying mutation” and “appeared spontaneously” in the British version.

The name E484K, in simple terms, is like the coordinates of the map. The number 484 is the exact location of the mutation, the letter E is the amino acid that was originally and the letter K is the amino acid to which it moved.

Concern about the South African variant, with its E484K mutation, has already led the British authorities to start a door-to-door mass test in areas where cases of the variant have been found in people unrelated to South Africa, in time what is required quarantine in hotels for arrivals in South Africa has not yet entered into force.

Although the number of reported cases of the British variant with the mutation in question is small, the scientists said they demonstrated how the high prevalence of cases in the UK meant that it was not enough just to prevent the import of new variants.

“This report seems to suggest that in conditions of very high levels of virus replication, even the strictest border controls, although they may delay spread, are unlikely to prevent new variants,” said Jonathan Stoye, a virologist at The Francis Crick Institute.