While many SARS-Cov-2 mutations are emerging in recent times, a new variant has just been detected in Bavaria (Germany).
New variant in Germany
Different variants have already been recorded: South Africa, United Kingdom, Brazil, Japan and now Germany. A total of 35 cases were discovered in Bavaria, out of the 75 new infections recorded at the hospital in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Bavaria.
Analyzes are underway in order to define the genetic mark of this new strain and to establish its identity card. German authorities are seeking to define whether this mutation is as contagious as Covid-19 and whether it can lead to severe forms of the disease.
Why so many variants?
The British variant, detected in November, has spread across the country and is now present in more than 50 countries around the world. The second variant, which appeared in South Africa, has been detected in around 20 countries, including the United Kingdom and France. Another variant was discovered in Brazil and has been transmitted to travelers to Japan. From this last variant emerged a new mutation, mainly remained in Japan.
Epidemiologist Antoine Flahault indicates that in ” reality, the virus has mutated thousands of times since Wuhan “. The more the virus is transmitted, the more it mutates. However, the Covid-19 knows less mutations compared to the flu ” normal “As the epidemiology Michaël Rochoy explains:” From the start, and this was one of the few good news, this virus was found to mutate quite little. The constantly increasing number of variants is also due to the fact that this virus is sequenced as much as possible and that we test massively “. ” As soon as this variant spreads more easily, it will inevitably dominate the viral circulation. »Underlined Pascal Crépey, epidemiologist and teacher-researcher at the School of Advanced Studies in Public Health in Rennes.
