Three cases of South African variant have been detected in Elche
The mutation has made the virus more contagious, allowing it to spread more easily.
Friday 12th February 2021 | MIKE SMITH
The Department of Universal Health and Public Health has detected three cases of the South African variant in the Comunidad Valenciana, which have been diagnosed at the Hospital General de Elche.
An exhaustive study is being carried out by the regional health department to determine how the South African variant arrived in the Comunidad Valenciana. So far no epidemiological link has been identified in any of the three cases that may be related to a trip to any of the risk areas.
With respect to the British variant, the Comunidad Valenciana has detected and identified 64 cases so far.
What is the South African variant?
Like all viruses, the coronavirus is constantly mutating into new variants and these small genetic changes help it to spread and thrive. There are literally thousands of variants of the coronavirus circulating around the planet but a handful have caused the coronavirus to become more infectious and dangerous to the host.
The South African variant, known as 501.V2, is currently causing concern as it has made the virus more contagious, allowing the virus to spread more easily. There is also some concern that vaccines might be less effective against this variant but tests are still being carried out and it’s extremely unlikely that vaccines will be found to be completely ineffective against it.
Although there are no direct flights to South Africa, on February 9th, the Spanish government announced that passengers arriving from South Africa via connecting flights in other countries would be given antigen tests at the airport.
Information Source
Press Release – Generalitat Valenciana
