Brazil variant: Professor shares concerns over coronavirus strain
A new Covid variant was detected in Brazil earlier this month, after four travellers arrived in Japan with the mutation. It’s the third confirmed variant of Covid-19, which has raised alarms across the world. What are the symptoms of the new Brazilian Covid variant?
The variant has drawn similarities to the British and South African mutations, which were first spotted last year.
Scientists are still analysing the Brazilian variant, to see if it’s more transmissible than the original coronavirus strain.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson admitted that he was “concerned” about the new variant, but added that there were still plenty of questions remaining.
“We already have tough measures to protect this country from new infections coming in from abroad,” he said.
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“We are taking steps to do that in respect of the Brazilian variant.”
The Government’s Chief Scientific Advisor, Sir Patrick Vallance, explained that despite the new variant’s transmissibility, it wouldn’t result in a more severe infection.
“What we’re seeing is that mutations are cropping up across the world which are quite similar in terms of the changes. The Brazilian one, like the South African one, has a change of the genetic code, at position 484, and that changes a bit of a shape of the protein.
“The changes that we’re seeing with the variants are largely around increased transmission – it makes it easier to get it from one person to another, it makes it easier therefore to catch.”
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What are the symptoms of the new Covid variant?
Signs of the new Covid variants – including in the UK and South Africa – are believed to be exactly the same as the original strain.
There’s no suggestion – at the moment – that patients are more likely to develop complications or serious infections.
But, seeing as it’s more transmissible, it means that more people can be infected by the virus.
It’s therefore absolutely essential that everyone stays vigilant for the most common symptoms of coronavirus.
The three most important symptoms to look out for include a high fever, a new, continuous cough, and a loss of taste or smell.
You may have a high fever if your chest or back feels hot to the touch.
A continuous cough describes having three or more coughing episodes over a 24-hour period.
Most people have at least one of the three main symptoms of coronavirus.
Some patients have also reported gastrointestinal symptoms of coronavirus, including diarrhoea and nausea.
In some cases, these symptoms are the very first warning sign of the infection.
You may also be at risk of Covid-19 if you feel unusually fatigued, develop strange rashes, or have painful headaches.
If you think that you may have coronavirus, you should get tested as soon as possible, and self-isolate until you know that you’re negative.
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