A new mutation of the Delta variant which could make it more resistant to vaccines has been identified in the UK.
Some 19 cases of Delta with E484K, the mutation associated with immune escape in other variants, have been found, including 17 in England and two in Scotland.
Although case numbers are very low, the presence of E484K – known in virology circles as “Eeek” because of its vaccine-dodging qualities – is a cause for concern and Public Health England have classed it as a “signal under investigation”.
The latest technical briefing paper on Delta by PHE say changes at position 484 on the covid genome are “potentially antigenically significant” – meaning it could make the virus more resistant to current vaccines.
However all vaccines in the UK offer strong protection against Delta and while this mutation could potentially blunt their effect it would not make them ineffective.
The E484K mutation is present in the Beta virus first identified in South Africa, which triggered surge testing where it was found in the UK earlier this year due to its concerning properties, as well as in two other strains of B1617, the parent lineage of the Delta variant. All three did not have the same highly contagious properties as Delta.
But scientists have warned for some time that a combination of highly transmissible Delta with an immune escape mutation could pose a threat to vaccines.
However, the clusters of Delta + E484K may die out, as happened with the so-called “Delta Plus” variant in the UK earlier this summer, which was a combination of Delta with E484Q, another mutation of concern.
As of 13 September, the largest clusters of Delta + E484K are in the East Midlands and Yorkshire and the Humber regions, with six and four cases respectively. There are two in the East of England and one each in London, the north west, south east and south west of England, and a further one in an unknown region.
Three of the 17 English cases are linked to travel through Latvia and Nigeria.
Internationally there are 99 cases of Delta + E484K, including 25 in the United States, 22 in Denmark, 21 in Turkey, six in Italy, and three in Germany.
A PHE spokesperson said: “We constantly monitor all data relating to SARS-CoV-2 variants in the UK and abroad. Delta with E484K is not a Variant Under Investigation or a Variant of Concern at this time. When cases are identified, health protection teams are informed so that they can take actions appropriate to the epidemiological situation.”
The weekly average of hospital admissions has fallen for the first time in several weeks, according to the latest Government coronavirus dashboard figures.
inews.co.uk
There were 909 new hospitalisations as of 13 September. The number of new daily cases also continued to fall, to 32,651, a seven-day average decrease of 23 per cent. However daily deaths remain relatively high, with 178 new fatalities reported on Friday.
The shift also suggests the virus is coming under pressure in a largely vaccinated population in the UK and is trying to adapt to survive.
Some 19 cases of Delta with E484K, the mutation associated with immune escape in other variants, have been found, including 17 in England and two in Scotland.
Although case numbers are very low, the presence of E484K – known in virology circles as “Eeek” because of its vaccine-dodging qualities – is a cause for concern and Public Health England have classed it as a “signal under investigation”.
The latest technical briefing paper on Delta by PHE say changes at position 484 on the covid genome are “potentially antigenically significant” – meaning it could make the virus more resistant to current vaccines.
However all vaccines in the UK offer strong protection against Delta and while this mutation could potentially blunt their effect it would not make them ineffective.
The E484K mutation is present in the Beta virus first identified in South Africa, which triggered surge testing where it was found in the UK earlier this year due to its concerning properties, as well as in two other strains of B1617, the parent lineage of the Delta variant. All three did not have the same highly contagious properties as Delta.
But scientists have warned for some time that a combination of highly transmissible Delta with an immune escape mutation could pose a threat to vaccines.
However, the clusters of Delta + E484K may die out, as happened with the so-called “Delta Plus” variant in the UK earlier this summer, which was a combination of Delta with E484Q, another mutation of concern.
As of 13 September, the largest clusters of Delta + E484K are in the East Midlands and Yorkshire and the Humber regions, with six and four cases respectively. There are two in the East of England and one each in London, the north west, south east and south west of England, and a further one in an unknown region.
Three of the 17 English cases are linked to travel through Latvia and Nigeria.
Internationally there are 99 cases of Delta + E484K, including 25 in the United States, 22 in Denmark, 21 in Turkey, six in Italy, and three in Germany.
A PHE spokesperson said: “We constantly monitor all data relating to SARS-CoV-2 variants in the UK and abroad. Delta with E484K is not a Variant Under Investigation or a Variant of Concern at this time. When cases are identified, health protection teams are informed so that they can take actions appropriate to the epidemiological situation.”
The weekly average of hospital admissions has fallen for the first time in several weeks, according to the latest Government coronavirus dashboard figures.
New Covid Delta variant with mutation that could dodge vaccines found in UK
There are just 19 cases so far of Delta + E484K, the mutation associated with immune escape - suggesting the virus is coming under pressure from highly vaccinated population
inews.co.uk
There were 909 new hospitalisations as of 13 September. The number of new daily cases also continued to fall, to 32,651, a seven-day average decrease of 23 per cent. However daily deaths remain relatively high, with 178 new fatalities reported on Friday.
The shift also suggests the virus is coming under pressure in a largely vaccinated population in the UK and is trying to adapt to survive.
