Regarding the "Delta strain" of the new corona mutant virus confirmed in India, the National Institute of Infectious Diseases estimates that the mutant virus already accounts for more than 30% of the total in the Kanto region.
It is expected that the number will increase further in the future and many will be replaced by next month.
This was shown by the National Institute of Infectious Diseases at an expert meeting of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare held on the 7th of this month.
"Mutant screening test" to check how much of the new coronavirus-positive specimens contain the "L452R" mutation found in the "Delta strain" confirmed in India, among 6 private testing companies. Estimated based on the result of.
As a result, it is estimated that this mutant virus began to increase in the three prefectures of Tokyo, Saitama, Chiba, and Kanagawa from the middle of last month, and already accounts for 34% of the total.
It is expected to increase further in the future, and the National Institute of Infectious Diseases estimates that it will reach more than 75% by the end of this month, and most of it will be replaced by the end of next month.
On the other hand, in Osaka, Kyoto, and Hyogo prefectures in the Kansai region, it is estimated to be 12% of the total so far, and although the number is still small, it is gradually increasing, so it is possible that replacement is progressing. ..
Analysis of the infectivity revealed that the mutant virus was estimated to be about 1.4 times more likely to spread than the "alpha strain" of the mutant virus found in the United Kingdom.
Regarding the results, an expert meeting of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare pointed out that "it is necessary to strengthen the nationwide monitoring system for'Delta strains' and to suppress the spread of infection as much as possible by thorough inspections." ..