India has more than 300,000 new infections per day and more than 2,000 people die each day.
The effect of the first confirmed mutant virus in India has been pointed out as one of the factors.
WHO has newly designated this variant virus as a "notable variant".
In Japan as well, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government has revealed confirmation of infection among women in their 80s.
What kind of virus is it?
Reported in at least 17 countries around the world
WHO = World Health Organization released a report on the 27th that the first confirmed mutant virus in India has been reported in at least 17 countries in the world so far, including India, the United Kingdom, the United States and Singapore. I made it clear.
Is it strengthening the infectivity and reducing the function of the antibody?
According to the report, this mutant virus has three characteristic genetic mutations that may increase its infectivity or reduce the activity of antibodies that attack the virus, and analysis of the infectivity in India also shows that it is infectious. It is suggested that it may be strengthening.
For this reason, WHO has newly designated this mutant virus as a "notable mutant strain" to watch the infection status, and called on health authorities in each country to report the detection status.
On the other hand, WHO pointed out that the rapid spread of infection in India was due to the difficulty of social infection control such as holding religious events in which a large number of people participated. He says he needs to hurry to study the nature.
What kind of virus?
Evaluation by the National Institute of Infectious Diseases
What kind of virus was the first confirmed mutant virus in India?
The National Institute of Infectious Diseases has compiled the evaluation as of the 26th.
According to a report released by the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, the mutant virus reported in India is called "B.1.617 strain" and may have two mutations, "L452R" and "E484Q". is.
WHO has revealed that it has been reported in at least 17 countries around the world, but it was first detected in domestic patients on April 20 in Japan, and was detected in 20 people by the 26th in airport quarantine. It means that there is.
In overseas studies, there is data that the vaccine used in India is less effective, but the virus with the same "L452R" mutation is compared with the virus with the "N501Y" mutation, which is also widespread in Japan. , There is also experimental data on cells that were less infectious.
According to the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, the relationship with the rapid increase in infected people in India is not clear due to the small number of genetic analyzes in India. I will keep track of it. "
British type South African type is "a mutant strain of concern"
Regarding the mutant virus of the new coronavirus, WHO has designated the following three as "variant strains of concern".
▽ "The first mutant virus found in the United Kingdom"
▽ "The mutant virus found in South Africa
" and
▽ "The mutant virus
spread in Brazil
"
Other
mutant viruses
have been reported in India.
According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of India announced on March 24, 2021, 15% to 20% of all viruses have two mutations, "E484Q" and "L452R", in Maharashtra, western India. It is detected and tends to increase.
It is not uncommon for new coronaviruses to have more than one mutation at the same time, and the question is how much the mutation affects properties such as infectivity.
For example, the first mutant virus confirmed in the United Kingdom, which is spreading mainly in Kansai and also in Japan, has five or more mutations in the main spike protein alone, of which "N501Y" is said to enhance infectivity. The mutation is a problem.
In addition to "N501Y", the mutant virus found in South Africa and the mutant virus spread in Brazil also have a mutation of "E484K" that may reduce the immune effect, similar to the mutant virus found in India. It is a virus that has two or more mutations that cause problems.
US President Joe Biden “Providing Vaccines to India”
The medical system is in crisis in India, and President Biden of the United States has expressed his desire to provide vaccines in addition to medical oxygen.
President Biden told reporters at the White House on the 27th that "India will immediately send all the necessary support" and will provide parts for the antiviral drug "remdesivir" and equipment used to manufacture vaccines. did.
In addition, he said in a telephone conversation with Indian Prime Minister Modi the day before, "We talked about when the vaccine itself could be sent to India. I will do so." In addition to that, he expressed his desire to provide vaccines.
The United States has already announced a policy to provide about 60 million doses of vaccine developed by British pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca to the countries that need it, but said that it is considering providing it. Countries and companies such as the United Kingdom are in full swing to support India.