Scientists in Britain announced that a genetic analysis of the samples of more than 7500 people who were infected with the emerging coronavirus (Covid-19) revealed that the virus spread rapidly throughout the world late last year and that it adapts to the human body that hosts it.
A study conducted by scientists of the Institute of Genetics, University College London, discovered 198 recurrent genetic mutations of the emerging corona virus, whose scientific name is "SARS-Cove-2", and the researchers said that this shows the extent of the changes that occur in the virus as it spreads among people.
The university professor who led the research team, François Ballot, said that the results show that a large proportion of the global genetic diversity of the virus is present in all countries that were severely affected by its spread, and this indicates that the virus was transmitted widely in various parts of the world from the first epidemic. .
"It is normal for all viruses to mutate. Transformations by themselves are not a bad thing and there is no indication that the SARS-Cove-2 virus is mutating faster or slower than expected. Until now, we cannot say whether the virus is increasing or less deadly," he added. And the ability to spread. "
The announced number of people infected with the virus has exceeded 3.68 million people worldwide, and the death toll has reached 256,000, according to Reuters statistics.
Infections have been confirmed in more than 210 countries and territories since the first case was discovered in China in December 2019.
Palo explained that the findings of the research team, which was published today in Wednesday in the (Infinction, Genetics and Evolution) newsletter, confirm that the virus appeared in late 2019, noting that this happened when the virus transmitted from a former animal host to humans.
He added that this indicates that the virus is unlikely to be present in humans for a long time before being detected for the first time.
He continued that the small genetic mutations that the study reached and number 198 repeated in different conditions more than once. These shifts may reveal how the virus adapts and contributes to endeavors to develop drugs and vaccines.
A study published by French scientists this week found that a man had contracted the virus in France on December 27, almost a month before the first confirmed case in the country.
The World Health Organization said this case was not surprising and urged countries to investigate any other early cases suspected of being caused by the virus.