The Ministry of Health with reference to the RHPC epidemiology and microbiology reports: in Belarus, several first cases of infection with the British strain COVID-19 were revealed. The first samples of the British strain found in people who arrived from Poland, Ukraine and Egypt. A few more positive samples were obtained in patients infected in our country.
The virus is changing
Head of the Laboratory Elena Gasich reported that research and determination of the SARS-COV-2 virus mutations are constantly carried out in the RNPC. Signs of the British strain were highlighted, after which it was conducted to confirm its circulation in Belarus with one sample. The results showed the genome belonging to the "British" option.
The Ministry of Health notes that the development of the COVID-19 pandemic is due, among other things, the variability of the pathogen; For prevention it is necessary to conduct permanent molecular-epidemiological monitoring of changes in physical distance and vaccination.
What is a British strain?
The new strain of Coronavirus was revealed in the UK in early October 2020. One of the designations of the new strain is "Line B.1.1.7". Its main feature, which was noted initially, increased infinity. This is just one of several recent strains. Today it was already found in dozens of countries on different continents.
Based on those studies that were published in different sources, it turns out that "feelings" for a pretty new strain is not very different from the previous one. A little more often (sometimes within the error) cough, fatigue, pain in the muscles, chest, throat are manifested. But a little less often smells and the ability to feel the taste.
Mortality: It was 2.5 per 1000, it became 4.1
The "British Medical Journal" yesterday published the results of the study in which the mortality from the former and from the new strain is compared. Studies jointly conducted nine British universities and institutions. The sample included 109,812 people infected with coronavirus in October - January. For 28 days of observation of these patients, 367 (0.3%) of them died. At the same time, the former version of the virus, according to the researchers, gave a 1.5 person mortality to 1000 sick. For a new strain, this indicator has already been 4.1 per 1000 (or 64% more).
At the same time, researchers celebrate, the mortality statistics could have influenced what the appearance of a new version coincided with the high workload of hospitals. In general, the risk of death remains relatively low, but doctors are recommended to be prepared for new indicators when using previous methods of treatment.
There are other strains. Not us
The British strain is still the only option of coronavirus, in addition to the "classic" identified in our country. In total, scientists know today more than a dozen strains, with different intensity spreading on different continents.
A source:
Most vaccine manufacturers argue that it "remains in force" also for B.1.1.7. In general, according to scientists, Coronavirus mutates more slowly than, for example, the influenza virus. It is believed that it increases the performance of the vaccine. But it remains incomprehensible how the immunity acquired with the previous infection will work.
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