The mutant variant of Covid-19 that has surfaced in the UK is likely to be shown to be circulating in the Republic in coming days, according to Irish virology experts – already there are four suspect cases in Northern Ireland. The variant discovered in southeast Britain is, however, displaying characteristics that may mean it falls into the most troublesome category. Laboratory testsMuch of that critical data is likely to emerge by laboratory-based confirmation in coming days, said immunologist Prof Paul Moynagh of Maynooth University. A few cases with the new variant have been reported by Iceland, Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium and Italy. There are clearly enough concerning indicators for this variant to warrant widespread genetic characterisation and global sharing of resulting data.

Source: The Irish Times December 21, 2020 18:59 UTC