British search for mysterious person infected with the Brazilian Covid variant

British health officials would like to track down one of six people infected with a more contagious variant of the coronavirus, initially identified in Brazil.

Up to six cases of the new strain – called P.1 and considered a “form of care” by global health experts – have been discovered in the UK, with three cases in Scotland and three in England.

However, what worries officials is that one of the three cases found in England has gone undetected. The government released a statement on Sunday noting that two of the cases in England come from one South Gloucestershire household with a history of traveling to Brazil, and “there is a third, currently unrelated case.”

The cases in South Gloucestershire, south-east England, were quickly followed up by a team from Public Health England, and their contacts were identified and retested, the government said. All passengers on the same flight – Swiss Air flight LX318 from Sao Paulo, via Zurich, to London Heathrow on February 10 – were also traced by officials.

As a precaution, health officials are stepping up testing of asymptomatic cases in the South Gloucestershire area and increasing the sequencing of positive samples from the area.

However, further investigation is underway regarding a separate, third case of the variant identified in England, with health officials calling on anyone who has not received a result from a Covid test conducted on February 12 or 13 to go to to come forward.

“The person has not filled out their test registration card, so follow-up data is not available,” the government noted.

“Therefore, we ask anyone who has taken a test on 12 or 13 February and has not received their results or has an unfinished test record card to call 119 for assistance in England or 0300 303 2713 in Scotland as soon as possible.”

UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock will hold a meeting later Monday to notify UK lawmakers from all sides of the variant, the BBC reported.

Health officials are concerned as the variant first identified in Brazil is believed to be a more contagious strain of the coronavirus and may cause more serious infections. There are also concerns that it could make coronavirus vaccines less effective, but this is not confirmed and research is currently underway to see if this is the case.

While scientists are conducting this research, vaccine makers are developing booster shots to target variants.

Britain has already had to contend with the spread of a much more contagious variety that has been responsible for an increase in winter cases. The species has since become dominant in the country and has spread worldwide.

According to the latest weekly report from the World Health Organization, 101 countries have now reported cases of the variant first identified in Britain.

Regarding the species found in Brazil, it said 29 countries had reported cases so far. This P.1 variant was first identified in four travelers from Brazil to Japan in January, during routine screening at Haneda Airport outside Tokyo.

The strain has been labeled “concerning” because it shares some crucial mutations with the variant first identified in South Africa. The P.1 variant has a total of 17 unique mutations, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and was also first discovered in the U.S. in late January.

When the first cases of this variant were discovered in the UK, the rules required everyone traveling from abroad to isolate themselves at home for 10 days.

However, this changed on February 15, and now travelers to the UK are required to quarantine hotels for 10 days at their own expense. In mid-January, the UK banned travelers from a range of South American countries from entering the country unless they had a right of residence.

The move was an attempt to prevent more contagious variants from spreading and potentially undermine the country’s so far successful rollout of the coronavirus vaccine. On Sunday, the UK hit another milestone by vaccinating 20 million people with a first dose of a Covid vaccine.

Dr Susan Hopkins, PHE’s Strategic Response Director for Covid-19 and NHS Test and Trace Medical Advisor, said the new cases were identified in the UK thanks to the country’s advanced sequencing capabilities, “meaning we find more variants and mutations than many others. countries and are therefore able to take action quickly. “

“The most important thing to remember is that Covid-19, whatever variant it is, spreads the same way. That means the measures to stop it from spreading don’t change,” she said, advocating good personal hygiene and just taking it. leaves home. for essential reasons.

The three cases identified in Scotland were found in individuals who returned to Aberdeen from Brazil via Paris and London. These cases are not linked to the three cases in England.

As required at the time, upon their return to Scotland, the individuals became isolated to themselves and then tested positive for the coronavirus. The individuals then isolated for the required 10-day period, the government of Scotland said in a statement.

Due to possible concerns about this variant, other passengers on the flight from London to Aberdeen were contacted, the Scottish government noted.