In addition to the high number of Covid-19 cases in Portugal, the British government cites two other reasons for removing Portugal from the green list of tourist destinations considered safe: one of which points to 68 cases of the most dangerous delta strain. A variant of the novel coronavirus (formerly known as the Indian variant) has so far been registered in Portugal; The other to an additional mutation they say is “potentially harmful”. This latest mutation, called Nepali, is now being studied by the scientific community and has already been identified in 12 affected people in Portugal.
This is exactly what the British government realized in the statement it sent last Thursday and justified its decision. This statement states that the situation requires “rapid action” after “68 cases of a variant of concern have been identified in Portugal, including cases of a delta variant with an additional potentially harmful mutation”.
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This is lineage B.1.617.2 for the Indian variant, now known as delta, which is largely responsible for the exacerbation of the epidemic in countries such as India and its neighbours, but also in the United Kingdom, and which has caused particular concern in the British authorities and the scientific community.
In the latest report from the National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, referring to the period up to May 26 (which should be updated on Friday), Of the 46 identified cases of the Indian type in Portugal, 37 refer to this lineage as B.1.617.2 .. Now, the British authorities, citing figures from the scientific database GISAID (Global Initiative for the Sharing of All Influenza Data), Speaking in at least 68 cases set in Portuguese territory.
The Indian variant was more than four times as worrisome and the fastest growing lineage was the most concerning.
“Strain B.1.617.2 was classified as a variant of concern by the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) on May 24, 2021. The other two strains [da variante indiana B.1.617.1 e B.1.617.3] Maintaining variable interest rating,” reads the report on Covid-19 redline surveillance. While B.1.617.1 grew very little in Portugal in one month (identified on April 30 and on May 14 there were nine cases), B ratios had 1.617.2 cases on May 14 and May 14. Two weeks later there were 37. Now the UK is speaking (within a day of this number being updated by Portuguese health authorities) at 68.
Moreover, among these identified cases, the British government is particularly concerned about a new mutation of the same lineage. Announcing Portugal’s removal from the Green List, Transport Minister Grant Shapps, quoted by the BBC, warned that “a kind of mutation has been discovered in Nepal and that we still don’t know the possibility of it turning into a mutation capable of a resistance vaccine”. The mutation in question is known as K417N.
According to the gate Outbreak.infowhich add scientific content about the covid-19 pandemic, There are, worldwide, 90 cases of the K417N mutation, known as the Nepalese mutation, of the delta variant., be In Portugal, so far, 12 cases have been identified. It is this mutation that is part of the strain of the Indian dynasty. Information confirmed by the INSA source to the observer.
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In a Twitter post, Jeffrey Barrett, director of the Covid genome initiative at the UK’s Wellcome Sanger Institute, notes that this new Nepalese mutation has alarmed the scientific community, as have the strains of the Indian variant. May be more resistant to the Covid-19 vaccine.
There was some conversation about the “Nepal variant” today, and I’m sure it refers to the B.1.617.2/Delta as well as the K417N mutation. As usual, https://t.co/1FkUd8VmhK Makes it easy to get an overview: https://t.co/Ae4adMgK5c Some quick points:
– Jeffrey Barrett (@jcbarret) June 3, 2021
Barrett explains that this is the reason, despite the fact that so far there have only been 90 cases in the world – and thus something the average person should not worry at this point – the K417N (or “Nepalese) mutation, associated with a highly transmissible variant. Already large, it is seen as “a problem” and deserves a lot of attention from the scientific community.
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Charlotte Whitmore is a contributor at Mediarunsearch.co.uk, covering a broad range of topics including news, politics, business, technology, sport, entertainment, and lifestyle. She focuses on delivering clear, balanced reporting and practical information that helps readers stay informed about current events and emerging developments. Her work highlights stories that matter to everyday audiences, with an emphasis on accuracy, relevance, and accessible journalism that keeps readers connected to the issues shaping the UK and beyond.