South African mutant virus landing in Korea… “The vaccine might not be effective”

The South African government has launched an emergency experiment on the possibility of “vaccine resistance” of the novel coronavirus infection (Corona 19) mutant virus. It is pointed out that the existing vaccine may not work for mutations originating in South Africa in the UK, where the mutant virus occurred before South Africa.

South African infectious disease expert Dr. Richard Ressels told the Associated Press on the 4th (local time) that “the lab is urgently conducting an experiment to test for mutations (of the virus). This is the most pressing question we are currently facing.” . The South African government plans to determine the effectiveness of the existing vaccine by testing the mutant virus on the blood of corona19 antibody holders or vaccinators.

A woman in Cape Town, South Africa, asking for food. South Africa is the country with the most confirmed cases of the new corona in the African continent, and the problem of polarization is severe. [EPA=연합뉴스]

The urgent experiment originated in an interview with the BBC on the 4th (local time) by British Health Minister Matt Hancock. “The mutant virus that originated in South Africa is a much bigger problem than the new virus in the UK,” said Hancock. “I am very worried.” On the day, Minister Hancock did not explain the specific reason, but the day before, concerns were raised among experts in the UK about the possibility of vaccine resistance. Dr. John Bell of the UK Government Vaccine Task Force (TF) team “The vaccines currently developed appear to be effective against the UK mutation, but I don’t know the South African variant. I have a big question”Said. This means that it is not clear whether or not the vaccine will work, as mutations appear in the area that causes antibodies to stick to the virus.

British Health Minister Matt Hancock said on the 23rd of last month, “The corona 19 variant virus (501.V2), which caused a surge in new corona 19 cases in South Africa, has been found in the UK for the last two weeks.” I assume it was spread by one person.” [EPA=연합뉴스]

The mutant virus is more infectious than the existing virus and has the potential to spread rapidly if the vaccine is resistant. Both the British mutant virus (B.1.1.7) and the South African mutant virus (501.V2) have 1.5 to 1.7 times higher infectivity than the existing virus. The mutant virus originating from the UK, which first appeared in September last year, has already spread to 33 countries around the world, and recently, there are reports that 60% of confirmed cases in London and nearby have been infected with the mutant virus. In South Africa, which has been experiencing the second wave of coronavirus since last month, the cumulative number of confirmed cases exceeds 1.1 million, and the number of deaths and confirmed cases is increasing faster than during the first wave at the end of July last year.

The problem is that this mutant virus can also affect the domestic quarantine situation, which has barely decreased to 700. On the 3rd, the Central Defense Countermeasure Headquarters said, “To date, a total of 10 cases of mutant coronavirus infection, including 9 mutant viruses from the UK and one from South Africa, have been confirmed in Korea.” The government explained that there was no local community contact of the South African mutant virus confirmed person who entered Incheon Airport via the UAE, but the first case of a mutant virus from South Africa has been confirmed in Korea.

On the 5th, the number of new coronavirus infections (Corona 19) increased by 715, and medical staff are examining citizens at a corona19 screening clinic located in a public health center in Daejeon. Reporter Kim Seong-tae

However, vaccine experts explained that even if the existing vaccine is not applied to the mutant virus, a new vaccine can be created within 12 months. Dr. Bell said, “The mutation does not completely eliminate the efficacy of the vaccine, and it seems that there will be residual effects.” Ugur Sahin, CEO of Bioentech, Germany, said that the COVID-19 vaccine jointly developed with Pfizer, a US pharmaceutical company, “is expected to prevent mutations.” We can make a new vaccine that fits.”

Reporter Kim Hong-bum [email protected]