New "variant" or "strain" of Covid-19: what's the difference?
In the press, the terms “variant” of Covid-19 or new “strain” are used interchangeably to describe the new form of Covid-19 that has appeared in the United Kingdom.
On the side of the French authorities, it is the “variant” that wins.
Twitter / @ Reuters
Text by: Léa Pernelle
5 mins
A new form of Covid-19 was observed on December 25 for the first time on French soil in a man returning from the United Kingdom.
In the media, the words "variant" or "strain" of the coronavirus are heard as well, creating confusion, as these terms are almost synonymous.
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The new form of Covid-19 found in France is not surprising for emergency doctor Patrick Pelloux.
“
You don't have to worry more than that.
The vaccine that was created should cover these mutations,
”he says.
"
What would be worrying is that the virus mutates to the point of losing its genetic heritage and that the proteins which are on its capsule are no longer recognized by the immune protection which is being created by the vaccine
", he admits.
In the press, the terms “
variant
” of Covid-19 or new “
strain
”
are used interchangeably
to describe the new form of Covid-19 that has appeared in the United Kingdom.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson also uses the terms “
variant
” or “
strain
” (strain, note).
For the general public, these terms are "
synonyms
", explains Patrick Pelloux.
However, on the side of the French authorities, it is the "
variant
" that wins.
Government spokesperson Gabriel Attal used it for women, while Olivier Véran and Jérôme Salomon preferred the masculine “
variant
”.
About twenty mutations for this new variant of the coronavirus
Put simply, a variant of a virus involves less extensive mutations than a new strain.
“
There have already been a multitude of variants seen for months, because the virus acts in an ecological system in which it tries to develop.
We would prefer that they be variants, that is to say for which the vaccine works, rather than mutations that would make us radically change the virus.
This is why they use this term
”, analyzes Dr. Pelloux.
But this new variant of the coronavirus has about twenty mutations, an “
unusually large
” number according to the scientific adviser to the British government.
We can therefore speak of a new strain of the virus.
A first case of contamination by the variant of Covid-19 that appeared in the United Kingdom was detected in France on December 25, two days before the first injections of the vaccine, which arrived on French soil on Saturday.
The presence of this variant was confirmed in Tours, in a French citizen usually residing in the United Kingdom.
A similar case was reported in Germany, in a woman arriving by plane from London, and in Lebanon, also in a London passenger.
After France, Germany and Lebanon, confirmed cases of the British variant were also reported on December 26 in Spain and Italy.
A first case of contamination with the new variant of the coronavirus circulating in the United Kingdom has been detected in Sweden, health authorities also announced on Saturday.
The variant was detected "
on a person who has traveled from the United Kingdom,
" the Swedish Public Health Agency said in a statement.
This is "
a first isolated case
" in the country.
In Denmark, a neighboring country to Sweden, health authorities announced earlier this week that they had recorded a total of 33 cases of contamination with this same variant of the coronavirus.
►
To read: Covid-19: a first case in France of the variant that appeared in the United Kingdom
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Coronavirus
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