The mutant virus emerged as the biggest variable in the corona 19 outbreak. Health officials are concerned that the mutant virus could neutralize existing treatments and vaccines.
Kwon Jun-wook, head of the 2nd vice president of the Central Defense Countermeasures Headquarters, said at a regular briefing on the 23rd, “The mutant virus has a greater spreading power than the existing virus. It can return to the same situation as the nightmare of last December.”
He said, “The reproductive index of Corona 19 in Korea is about 0.82, and if the mutant virus from the UK spreads widely in Korea, this number will rise to 1.2.” The reproduction index is a number indicating how many people do not spread to one confirmed person. If it is less than 1, it means’trade suppression’, and if it is 1 or more, it means’spreading the pandemic’.
“I am afraid” even came out from Kwon’s mouth. He said, “According to today’s announcement by the British government, the fatality rate could also be higher, so it is a very scary situation,” he said. “If the existing Corona 19 had 10 deaths per 1,000 people over 60 years old, the mutant virus is 13 people, which is 30% higher.” Explained.
He said that existing treatments and vaccines may be neutralized by the mutant virus. He said, “There are announcements that as various mutant viruses are discovered one after another in various parts of the world, the speed of transmission as well as the severity increases,” he said. “Therapies and vaccines also face challenges. In the worst case, the possibility of problems with the effects cannot be ruled out. “He said. In the case of some mutant viruses, there is a possibility that treatments and vaccines will not work.
At the same time, Deputy General Manager Kwon said that he had begun research on mutant viruses originating in Britain and South Africa.
