By Michelle Roberts
Health Editor, BBC News online
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New variants of coronavirus are underway, which are more contagious than the original one that started the pandemic.
Scientists are urgently studying these mutated versions to understand what threat they pose.
What are these new variants?
Concerns’ concerns are currently focused on a small number of new variants of coronavirus:
- A
British variant that became dominant in large parts of Britain and spread to more than 50 other countries
- A South African variant that has also been found in at least 20 other countries, including the United Kingdom
- A new variant from Brazil
It is not unexpected that new variants have evolved – all viruses mutate as they make new specimens of themselves to spread and thrive.
There are thousands of different versions, or variants, of Covid circulating.
Most of these differences are unimportant. Some may even be harmful to the survival of the virus. But some may make it more contagious or threatening.
How serious is it?
It is suspected that the varieties from the United Kingdom, South Africa and Brazil are much more contagious or easy to catch than earlier versions.
All three have altered their ear protein – it is the part of the virus that attaches to human cells.
As a result, these variants appear to be better at infecting and spreading cells.
Experts believe the UK or ‘Kent’ strain originated in September and can be up to 70% more transmissible or contagious, although the latest research by Public Health England puts between 30% and 50%. It is this variant that has driven the latest exclusions in the UK.
The South African variant originated in October, and it has more important changes in the protein than the British variant.
It has one of the same mutations as the British, plus two more that scientists say could interfere more with the vaccine’s effectiveness. One of these can help the virus evade parts of the immune system called antibodies.
The United Kingdom has introduced a ban on direct flights from South Africa and restrictions on flights to the country. Anyone who has traveled there recently, and anyone they have been in contact with, is immediately asked to go into quarantine.
The Brazilian variant originated in July and was recently detected in four travelers who arrived in Japan from Brazil. It has three key mutations in the ear protein that make it similar to the one in South Africa.
The British government announced a ban on flights from South America and Portugal as a result of this development.
Will vaccines still work?
The current vaccines are designed around earlier variants, but scientists are confident that they will still have to work against the new ones, although they may not be quite as good.
Laboratory studies are underway to verify this.
Vaccinations lead the body to attack various parts of the virus, but not just these parts of the vein protein.
In the future, variants may emerge that are again more different.
Even in the worst case, the vaccines can be redesigned and adjusted to fit better – within a matter of weeks or months, if necessary, experts say.
As with flu vaccines, where a new shot is given each year to account for any changes in circulating flu viruses, something similar can happen to coronavirus.
Is it more dangerous?
There is currently no evidence to suggest that any of them could cause more serious illnesses.
Measures such as washing your hands, keeping your distance from other people and wearing a face mask will still help prevent infections, and because the new variants spread more easily, it is important to be extra vigilant.
What is being done about it?
More variants will appear.
Scientists around the world are on the lookout and any new variants will be carefully studied and monitored.
Researchers from the Kenyan Medical Research Institute say they are analyzing a new variant that is different from the UK and South Africa, for example.
British vaccine development minister Nadhim Zahawi says measures have already been taken to produce another batch of vaccines if needed.