As a result of analysis by the "Health and Safety Research Center" in Tokyo, it was found that the mutant virus of the new coronavirus reported in India was detected in 5 samples so far.
Four of them have no travel history and are not close contacts of those who have travel history.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Health and Safety extracted the samples that were accepted at the center after April 1st, and analyzed whether they were mutant viruses reported in India.
As a result, it was detected in 5 samples.
Of these, 4 samples were confirmed to have two mutations, "L452R" and "E484Q", but the remaining 1 sample had a mutation of "L452R", but "E484". It was confirmed that there was no mutation.
One of the five has traveled abroad, but the remaining four have no travel history and are not close contacts of those who have traveled.
Five are different from the one confirmed on April 20 by a National Institute of Infectious Diseases test.
The center began a screening test on April 30 to check for mutant viruses reported in India, but has not been detected since then.
Mitsuo Kaku, a specially appointed professor at Tohoku Medical and Pharmaceutical University, who chairs the "Expert Board" in Tokyo, said, "We have to keep an eye on the progress of this mutant virus. However, it is necessary to follow the transition including other types of mutant viruses. "
On the other hand, as a result of analyzing the samples collected at the research center in Tokyo for the virus with the highly infectious "N501Y" mutation, 148 cases, which is 67.9% of 218 cases, were found in the week until May 2. It means that it was detected.
This is an increase of 8.3 points compared to the previous week, the highest percentage since the city started the inspection.