Potential new coronavirus variant found in Brazilian city, says UFMG study

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – A possible new strain of the coronavirus was identified in Belo Horizonte and its metropolitan region by researchers from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and the private group Hermes Pardini, of analysis and diagnostics.

The team sequenced 85 genomes of SARS-CoV-2 from clinical samples collected in the metropolitan region of the capital of Minas Gerais, and identified two new genomes with a collection of 18 mutations not yet described, characterizing a possible new variant. The information was released on Wednesday, April 7.

“These two new genomes are in samples collected on February 27 and 28, 2021, and there is no evidence of an epidemiological link between them, such as kinship or residential region, which reinforces the plausibility of circulation of this new possible variant,” says the study.

Among the mutations are some shared with the Brazilian variants P1 (originated in Manaus) and P2 (Rio de Janeiro). The South African B.1.1.351 and the British B.1.1.7 variants were both associated with increased transmission.

“They are not the same mutations, but they are in the same regions as the P1, P2, African and British variants. This is a warning because they are the most transmissible and corroborates a little with the increase in cases of the disease in the state,” explains Danielle Zauli, coordinator of Research and Development of the Pardini group.

However, it is still impossible to say if the new strain causes greater transmission of the virus or more severe clinical effects in those who contract the disease.

The new variant was discovered by researchers at the Integrative Biology Laboratory of the Biological Sciences Institute at UFMG and Grupo Pardini’s Research and Development Sector, collaborating with the Molecular Virology Laboratory of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro and the Belo Horizonte City Hall.

The team believes that the variant is now circulating in other cities of Minas Gerais. “Maybe even in other regions of the country, but it had not yet been discovered,” he says.

Advance of the virus in Minas

The study also pointed out that the strains from Manaus and the UK are the most common in the capital, which may explain the worsening of the city’s pandemic. Minas Gerais state has also been experiencing an escalation of Covid-19 cases and deaths in the last few days.

On Wednesday, the state broke the record of deaths from the disease in 24 hours: 508 deaths were reported due to the new coronavirus. There were also 13,358 new cases. Minas Gerais was the third state in the country to have 500 or more deaths per day since the pandemic. It currently totals 26,303 deaths from Covid-19, out of a total of 1,182,847 infected.

Despite the coronavirus’s advance, the government of Romeu Zema (Novo) has decided to ease restrictions in some regions. Starting next Monday, April 12, the South Triangle macro-region in the far west of the state will be able to advance to the red phase, which is less restrictive than the current purple one.

The neighboring North Triangle region had already progressed to the same stage at the end of March. According to the State Secretary of Health, the other 12 macro-regions, including the Central Region, where Belo Horizonte is located, will continue in the purple phase, the most restrictive of all, for at least one more week.

Source: El País