Another variant of the virus was found in the variant… The world is in an emergency border blockade

The corona 19 variant virus, first discovered in the UK, has been found in the Middle East and Asia beyond Europe, and is spreading around the world. It is known that the contagious power is about 70% stronger than the existing Corona 19 virus, and the emergency lights have been turned on again for quarantine measures, such as countries around the world blocking borders.

According to foreign media on the 27th, cases of corona 19 strain infection from the UK are currently being reported all over the world. In Europe, it was found in various parts of the continent, including the UK, Spain, France, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, Denmark, Ireland, Italy and the Netherlands.

In Lebanon and Israel, the Middle Eastern countries along the Mediterranean coast, one and four cases of corona 19 infection were recently confirmed, respectively. Asian Singaporeans, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Australia have also confirmed the virus infection.

In neighboring Japan, 7 cases of strain infection were reported by the 26th, and one of them was confirmed as the first case of infection in Japan that was transmitted to British immigrants.

Canada, passing through the Atlantic Ocean, also confirmed two cases of virus infection in Ontario on the 26th. In particular, the two infected are known to have no history of travel to the UK unlike most of the corona 19 infections previously, and the internal spread of Canada is also a concern.

In Africa, a variant of Corona 19 originating from the UK and another variant virus were also found. On the 24th, the African Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced in Reuters that it appears that different corona 19 strains have recently appeared in South Africa and Nigeria. In particular, the variant corona 19 virus found in South Africa is known to be more contagious than the UK variant.

In the United States, which has the largest number of corona 19 cases and deaths in the world, cases of corona 19 infection have not been officially confirmed. However, local health officials said it is possible that the virus has already spread in the United States.

According to the US CNBC, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explained that “the US has rarely performed gene sequencing (to check for mutations). Considering this, the variant COVID-19 may already be in the US.” did.

Corona 19 from the UK, which has been reported around the world, was first discovered in the southeastern part of the UK in September. The British government analyzes that the infectivity of the strain named’B.1.1.7 (VUI-202012/01)’ is up to 70% stronger than the existing virus.

Due to its high infectivity, this strain is the root cause of the recent outbreak in Britain. According to the BBC on the 27th, the British Bureau of Statistics (ONS) announced that two-thirds of confirmed cases in London and eastern and southeastern England were infected with the variant.

It is not yet clear whether the British variant is more lethal than the existing Corona 19. However, experts predict that even if strains appear, the efficacy of the vaccine will not be significantly affected.Are doing.

As such more infectious strains emerged, and most cases of foreign strains infected with Corona 19 were traced to be arriving from the UK, countries around the world entered into drastic border control as in spring. The BBC reported on the 27th that about 40 countries restrict entry from the UK.

Furthermore, some countries are closing the entire border. Saudi Arabia, Oman and Kuwait said they would close their borders for a week. Japan is also suspending entry for new foreigners from the 28th to the end of next month except in some cases.

South Korea also temporarily suspended flights from the UK from the 23rd to the 31st, and corona 19 even before the release of quarantine in addition to the existing measures for entry into the country, such as diagnostic examination for symptomatic cases and 14-day facility and self-reliance measures. Additional diagnostic tests are performed.

Meanwhile Global vaccine companies such as Pfizer, Bioentech, Modena, and AstraZeneca are confident of the efficacy of the vaccine against the strain, and further research for accurate diagnosis.Went out to

On the 20th, CNN launched a study on the efficacy of the vaccine against the British variant at the Waltard Army Research Institute under the US Department of Defense.

Reporter Seok Kyung-min [email protected]