The government press release, dated December 31, 2020, tells us that a first case of the African variant is confirmed on French national territory.
The 501.V2 variant
The Sars-Cov-2 has mutated since it caused the global pandemic, which started in China. After being spotted in South Africa, it was in the United Kingdom that it was identified. However, the virus present in these two territories has common variants, but also different. French health authorities certify the arrival of a man carrying the new mutation of the virus responsible for Covid-19, named ” 501.V2 “. This is a man who lives in the Haut-Rhin department, near the Swiss border. He spent time in the South African region. A few days after his return, he presented symptoms suggestive of the disease. As a result, he underwent a nasopharyngeal swab screening test (RT-PCR) in Switzerland, which came back positive. ” Sequencing with the 501 V2 variant Was reported by Swiss health representatives. This information was then confirmed by the National Reference Center for Emerging Viral Infections (CRIVE Switzerland) and the National Reference Center for Respiratory Infections Viruses (CNR France). The patient is doing well today, after being quarantined immediately upon the appearance of clinical signs.
Search for contact cases
The Public Health France organization, in collaboration with the National Reference Centers (CNR) and analysis laboratories, has set up ” a system for detecting and monitoring possible cases of infection or variant carriage “, Since the variant” VUI 202012/01 »Circulates in various European countries and in South Africa. Indeed, laboratories are required to send the CNRs any positive result for a positive person from the United Kingdom or South Africa. The goal of this maneuver is to isolate patients early in order to limit the spread of the virus. After researching, the French health authorities have not identified any risky contact. Travelers wishing to enter France and coming from Great Britain must present a negative test result, dating from less than 72 hours if returning from South Africa.
