The regional director of WHO Europe, Hans Kluge announced that the new mutant variant of the Covid-19 has been detected in eight European countries and it is now vital to strengthen existing protective measures such as distancing/masks/staying in core support bubbles. However, the name of the countries were not disclosed yet. Amid this growing havoc, he assured that World Health Organisation (WHO) is constantly monitoring the situation.
While iterating on the necessity to increase the safety measures, Hans Kluge, WHO’s Regional Director for Europe stated, the new strain appears to be spreading among younger age groups, on contrary to the previous strains. Health experts now doubt that the second outbreak is seemingly imminent and might be more dangerous down the lane.
Today a fresh covid-19 case had also been reported in France, believed to be triggered from the new strain.
A week ago, the new strain of the coronavirus was first detected in the United Kingdom followed by a third variant that has its roots from South Africa. Health experts affirm, this type of virus is more potent and transmissible than other SARS-CoV-2 variants. Succeeding the new strain update, several countries imposed new travel restrictions.
It is learnt that the new variant would effect the diagnostic tools and is highly critical to adapt new testing methods. Reportedly, several combinations of mutations, particularly in the S gene is known to occur in this strain, which could cause spreading quickly between two individuals.