Japanese media reported on the 31st that a research team from Tokyo Medical and Dental University in Japan reported that the "N501S" mutation of the delta strain of the COVID-19 virus was discovered for the first time in Japan. The research team pointed out that the mutation is likely to have occurred in Japan. There are only 8 reports of such mutations in Delta strains in the world.
According to the report, in mid-August, a Japanese patient with COVID-19 was diagnosed in the affiliated hospital of Tokyo Medical and Dental University. The research team of Tokyo Medical and Dental University collected a variant of the Delta strain from this patient. Through virus gene analysis, it is found that the virus has undergone "N501S" mutation.
The report pointed out that there are only 8 reports of such mutations in the Delta strain worldwide. Since this is the first time that this mutant has been discovered in Japan, based on analysis of genetic characteristics and other analysis, the research team speculates that the mutation is likely to be completed in Japan.
The mutation of the Delta strain "N501S" is similar to the mutation of the Alpha strain "N501Y" originally discovered in the UK, but its infectivity has not been determined yet.
The research team pointed out that “the alpha strain may increase the rate of second infections and increase the risk of severe illness and death. Because the'N501S' variant is similar to the'N501Y' variant, it cannot be ruled out that this variant strain is the same as the alpha strain. Possibility of characteristics."
Associate Professor Takeuchi Hiraki of Tokyo Medical and Dental University said that due to the continuous expansion of the infection range of the epidemic, “new variants may appear in Japan one after another, so it is necessary to take measures to control the infection. It is also necessary to expand the virus surveillance system for gene analysis.”
According to a South African media report on August 31, local time, South Africa’s National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NICD) said that a multiple mutant COVID-19 virus variant called C.1.2 appeared in South Africa, but the variant strain does not currently cause People worry.
According to the Institute, the delta mutant strain is currently the main source of most infections in South Africa, and the C.1.2 mutant strain does not pose a threat for the time being. During the third wave of COVID-19 in South Africa in May this year, the C.1.2 mutant strain was discovered for the first time in South Africa, and South African researchers are paying close attention to the development of this latest variant.
According to the research institute, the current incidence of C.1.2 mutant strains is very low, only between 2% and 3%. But this number is increasing month by month, so they are currently sequencing the virus gene and paying close attention to the situation. There is not much more detailed data about this mutant strain. The Institute stated that no matter what variant strains appear, vaccination is still crucial, and efforts must be made to reduce the pressure on the health system and slow the spread of the virus.
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