Pressemeddelelse fra Vita Laboratoriot Oy
Preliminary named as Fin-796H this new variant has genomic features from both the British and South African SARS-CoV-2 variants but is distinct from these and other published variants.
– The new Finnish variant was detected during the sequence analysis of SARS-CoV-2 spike-gene for clinical samples in the Institute of Biotechnology. The variant has unique features and the combination of S gene mutations is clearly novel, stated by Petri Auvinen, Research Director at the Institute of Biotechnology.
The Fin-796H variant shares with the South African variant the key mutation 484K that has been claimed to be central in the impaired vaccine protection. Furthermore, the Fin-796H variant has mutations in the genomic area coding the N gene.
– The novel N gene mutation is responsible for the observed negative test result in one out of our two routine diagnostic PCR reactions. Thus, the risk of the infection not being detected is clear if only one target in the N gene of the virus is used. This warrants a need for diagnostic laboratories to be aware of this variant, states Dr Sakari Jokiranta, clinical microbiology specialist at the Vita Laboratories.
Up to now, there is no information whether the COVID-19 disease caused by the new variant differs from that caused by the wild type virus. Proof of the characteristics of the new variant will be fully discovered once the information from its ability to spread in the population is known. It is unlikely that this kind of divergent variant has developed in Finland due to low rate of infections.
Kontakt:
Vita Laboratories Inc., Clinical Microbiologist, Adj. prof. Sakari Jokiranta, tel +358 50 547 1184, sakari.jokiranta@vita.fi
Læs hele pressemeddelelsen på Via Ritzau her: https://www.sttinfo.fi/tiedote/a-new-covid-19-variant-found-in-finland-challenging-for-detection?releaseId=69901443
** Ovenstående pressemeddelelse er videreformidlet af Ritzau på vegne af tredjepart. Ritzau er derfor ikke ansvarlig for indholdet **
