According to Dailymail, to date there are 16 new cases of this variant being investigated. The variant is temporarily named B1.1.318.
The new variant was first discovered on February 15 through genetic sequencing, and UK health officials began tracking its spread on February 24.
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Variant with E484K mutation on prickly protein. This mutation is also present in the South African and Brazilian variant – two variants have also appeared in the UK.
Mutations change the way a virus deals with the immune system, helping it evade antibodies.
British health officials do not know whether this new variant comes from the UK or other countries. The British Health Authority now has four variants under investigation and four more concerning concerns. The UK variants include the Kent variant, one South African variant, two Brazilian variants, one possibly native to Nigeria, two variants in Bristol and Liverpool, one variant in California.
The new variant of SARS-CoV-2 was announced on March 4th without the N501Y mutation – a mutation that causes the virus to spread more quickly.
Scientists previously believed that the variants without the N501Y mutation are unlikely to be as powerful as the Kent variant.
The N501Y mutation is present in the Kent, South Africa, and Brazilian variant, making it easier for the virus to stick to human cells and more contagious.