The French government officially informed on the 16th that a new variant of Wuhan pneumonia (novel coronavirus disease, COVID-19) virus was found in the northwestern Brittany region (Brittany). After preliminary analysis, although it was not found to be more easily transmitted or more likely to cause serious illness for the Time being, it is worrying that the Variant virus seems to be able to evade the usual PCR nucleic acid tests.
The Parisian newspaper reported on March 15 that 79 cases of COVID-19 infection were found in a hospital in the local coastal city of Lannion on March 13, including eight cases with the virus variant.
International standard confirmatory testing tools are PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests for viral nucleic acids to prove that patients are infected, which is generally highly accurate. Local officials said researchers are investigating whether a genetic mutation in the variant of the virus is the cause of the test becoming difficult. A statement from Brittany regional health authorities said the new variant of the virus will be studied for its response to antibodies produced as a result of the infection, as well as the vaccine.
This variant of the virus is currently on the list of viral variants monitored by the World Health Organization. It will be monitored by the international community, and its main characteristics are likely to focus on the difficulty of detection. According to the French Directorate General of Health, infected individuals have typical symptoms of martial lung, but PCR nucleic acid tests on throat swabs are negative and require serum antibody tests or nucleic acid tests on deeper respiratory samples to detect the disease.
Recent Comments