LONDON, 24 July. - (ANA) - Scientists are investigating a new coronavirus variant in the  United Kingdom (UK).

 

Public Health England (PHE) said on Friday that laboratory testing has commenced on the new B.1.621 variant.

 

Here is everything we know so far.

 

 

 

 

PHE said 16 infections have been identified so far, adding the majority are linked to overseas travel.

 

 

 

 

PHE did not say in its releases published on Friday, but the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control has said it was first identified in Colombia in January.

 

 

 

 

Not yet. Or at least no more concerned than we should be about the pandemic in general.

 

PHE said on Friday that there is “currently no evidence that this variant causes more severe disease or renders the vaccines currently deployed any less effective”.

 

There is also no evidence of community transmission in the UK, the agency said.

 

It has been designated a “variant under investigation”. It may be escalated to a “variant of concern”, depending on the findings of the laboratory tests.

 

 

 

 

PHE explains that Covid-19 variants, “if considered to have concerning epidemiological, immunological or pathogenic properties, are raised for formal investigation".

 

It added: “At this point they are designated variant under investigation (VUI) with a year, month, and number. Following a risk assessment with the relevant expert committee, they may be designated variant of concern (VOC).”

 

In addition to the new B.1.621 variant, there are 15 other VUIs and VOCs, including the Delta variant which currently accounts for 99% of the UK’s Covid cases.

 

 

 

 

It said on Friday: “All appropriate public health interventions will be undertaken, including additional contact tracing and targeted testing.

 

“Where cases have been identified, additional follow-up of cases, testing of contacts and if required targeted case finding will be deployed to limit its spread.” - (ANA) -

 

AB/ANA/24 July 2021 - - -