New Nigerian Covid variant detected in UK as 33 cases confirmed

16 February 2021, 15:06

A new coronavirus variant has been detected in the UK
A new coronavirus variant has been detected in the UK. Picture: PA

By Patrick Grafton-Green

A new coronavirus variant linked to Nigeria has emerged with 33 cases detected in the UK so far.

The B.1.525 strain has been detected in 11 countries, also including the US, France, Denmark and Australia, scientists at the University of Edinburgh said.

The earliest traces of it date back to December, when it appeared in the UK and Nigeria.

READ MORE: Covid deaths down by 13% in a week in first fall since Christmas

READ MORE: Covid jabs 'reducing deaths, hospital admissions and transmission', early data shows

It is feared the variant may be able to infect people who have already had Covid-19 or who have been vaccinated.

It contains the E484K mutation, a genetic change found in the South African and Brazilian strains.

Laboratory studies have shown viruses with this mutation are able to escape human defences, making them more efficient at evading natural and vaccine-triggered immunity.

Oxford Uni expert says we need to be aggressive at halting new strains

The strain also has a second Q677H mutation in the spike protein, which may help it further evade antibodies.

However even if vaccines are less effective in preventing a person from becoming infected with variants, the current jabs in use could still prevent severe disease and cut hospital admissions.

Health chiefs will today officially list the new strain as under investigation while further tests are carried out, according to MailOnline.

PM ‘very confident’ in covid vaccines amid variant concerns

Professor Yvonne Doyle, medical director at PHE, said: “There is currently no evidence that this set of mutations causes more severe illness or increased transmissibility."

Dr Simon Clarke, associate professor of cellular microbiology at the University of Reading, told the Guardian: “We don’t yet know how well this variant will spread, but if it is successful it can be presumed that immunity from any vaccine or previous infection will be blunted.”

He added: “I think that until we know more about these variants, any variants which carry E484K should be subject to surge testing as it seems to confer resistance to immunity, however that is generated.”

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Lebanon Israel

Israeli airstrikes kill 31 in Lebanon as leaders draw closer to a ceasefire

Vape Jam UK 2019

Millions of illegal vapes and tobacco products seized in new crackdown - as sales to minors soar

More flooding is "likely" this week after Storm Bert brought weather chaos to the UK

More flooding 'likely' this week in parts of UK after Storm Bert brings torrential rain and flooding

Biden White House Holidays

Joe Biden begins final White House holiday season with turkey pardons

Adele in Munich

Adele emotional as she ends Las Vegas residency with 100th show - but admits she doesn't know when she'll perform again

Newtown Shooting Infowars

Alex Jones’ bankruptcy judge orders new hearing on The Onion’s Infowars bid

Flood water surrounding the town bridge in Bradford-on-Avon

Clean-up begins after Storm Bert brings torrential rain and widespread flooding to parts of UK - with more flooding likely

Oil rig, oil exploration, North Sea

More than 50 staff evacuated after supply vessel crashes into oil rig in North Sea

Rachel Reeves at the annual CBI conference

Rachel Reeves tells businesses no more tax rises as she defends budget at CBI conference

Hundreds of people have staged a demonstration in Dublin in solidarity with Nikita Hand

Hundreds stage demonstration in Dublin in 'utter solidarity' with woman who won civil rape case against Conor McGregor

Sunset at Marsa Alam

16 missing after tourist vessel sinks in Red Sea, Egyptian officials say

Election 2024 Trump Special Counsel

Donald Trump’s election interference and classified documents cases dismissed

Lovely couple under mistletoe bunch on light blue background

'Wokery' risks killing off Christmas mistletoe due to fears of people being 'accused of abuse'

Special counsel Jack Smith asked a judge to dismiss the federal election interference case against Donald Trump

US judge asked to drop 2020 election interference charges against Donald Trump

Ambulances wait to take the injured to hospital in the UK

Twelve British soldiers injured in crash in Estonia as Army minibuses involved in horror snow pile-up

c

Russia cautions UK and France against deploying soldiers-for-hire to Ukraine