[국제]New mutant virus spread in New York, fear of weakening vaccine effect

[앵커]

In New York, USA, the mutant virus and other types of new mutant viruses reported so far are spreading.

This mutant virus, like the South African mutant virus, is known to weaken vaccine efficacy and is of great concern.

Reporter Kim Hyung-geun on the report.

[기자]

A research team at Columbia University revealed that they discovered a new mutant virus in a Corona 19 specimen collected in New York, USA in November.

The new mutant virus was found to be similar to the mutant virus from South Africa and Brazil.

This is because the E484K mutation that occurred in the spike protein was identified in common.

Viruses with the E484K mutation are known to more effectively avoid antibodies and may increase resistance to some vaccines.

“It seems that the mutant virus has spread widely in New York,” the researchers say. “It is not a one-time infection.”

Over the past two weeks, the rate of new mutant virus outbreaks has risen sharply to 12.7%.

Experts have also expressed their opinion that they are more concerned than the mutation reported recently in California.

The mutant virus found in California is also known to increase the risk of being severe enough to require an oxygen respirator.

The research team reported that people infected with the new mutant virus also had a higher hospitalization rate than those infected with the general virus.

U.S. health officials are concerned that the newly discovered mutant virus may increase the number of severely ill patients and reduce the effectiveness of the vaccine, which will lead to the spread of Corona 19.

This is YTN Kim Hyung-geun.

[저작권자(c) YTN & YTN plus 무단전재 및 재배포 금지]