The United Kingdom detected a new mutation of the Coronavirus called the British variant, as reported by the country's health authorities, who assured that they fear the variation since it could reduce the effectiveness of current vaccines.
In an analysis of 214.159 samples of this variant of the virus, scientists from the public health agency Public Health England (PHE) found eleven cases of the E484K mutation, which is also found in the Brazilian (B1128) and South African (B1351) variants.
Julian Tang, a virologist at the University of Leicester, said, "This is a disturbing finding, although not entirely surprising, given that viruses are expected to mutate." He insisted that current restrictions must be respected because viruses not only spread but evolve to adapt to their environment.
The university also published research that explains that the Pfizer-Bio N Tech vaccine is effective against the British variant, but is less effective when it contains the E484K mutation.
The latest clinical analyzes had already confirmed that this strain contained a N501Y mutation, an alteration that made it more transmissible.
