2024-08-30 04:00:01
On the Covid-19 front, the news is pretty good! The virus continues to spread, but “City and hospital indicators remain stable”, According to instructions issued by the French Public Health Service (SPF) on August 21. “The rate of hospitalization after emergency room visits remains low. »
The latest variant, KP.3.1.1, continues to increase globally. It is a sublineage of the JN.1 variant, which itself belongs to the Omicron family. Data show that as of July 22, KP.3.1.1 still accounts for the majority in France, accounting for about 48% of the sequence SPF. “KP.3.1.1 began circulating in France in mid-June and appears to have an advantage over other current variants, but it is not yet certain at this stage whether it will replace other variants and cause a wave»SPF epidemiologist Justine Schaeffer emphasizes. Remember, the SARS-CoV-2 genome is an RNA molecule. It is classified as a variant under surveillance (VUM), however, “To date, there have been no worrisome public health-related signals.”famous SPF level.
The peculiarity of KP.3.1.1 is that the spike protein has three mutations, which allow the virus to attach to and infect cells: F456L, Q493E and V110. These “registrations” correspond to the positions of amino acids (the molecules that make up proteins) at the virus’s entry point into the host. “KP.3.1.1 has deleted serine at position 31, which may affect its in vitro virological characteristics: increased infectivity and enhanced ability to escape antibody neutralization”specify SPF Note.
“behavior change”
“KP.3.1.1 spreads better than other viruses and may be better able to evade pre-existing immune responses, but is not more virulent””, assures Bruno Lina, Director of the CNR and member of the Committee for Monitoring and Anticipating Health Risks (Covars).
Backtrace. The original SARS-CoV-2 virus, known as the “Wuhan” virus, emerged in China in late 2019 and then spread around the world, mutating regularly. The first variant of concern, known as “Alpha”, appeared in the United Kingdom in late 2020, Beta appeared in South Africa shortly after, then Gamma, in South America in early 2021, and Delta appeared in India in the spring of the same year. “They are all variants of the Wuhan virus strain and have the same genetic roots.”needs Bruno Lina.
The Omicron variant was first discovered in South Africa in November 2021. “In addition to the number of Omicron mutations, this new variant also leads to a change in the behavior of the virus. We move from a virus that primarily causes lower lung infections to a virus that causes upper respiratory tract infections (in the otolaryngology field), which is beneficial “The spread of the virus””, continues Bruno Lina. Like its predecessor, this new variant has favorable mutations such as immune escape and therefore increased transmissibility, making it easier for the virus to re-infect people who are already infected and may be immune to the old virus.
There are 34.01% left to read in this article. The remainder is reserved for subscribers.
1725183192
#Covid19 #continues #spread #France #latest #Omicron #variant #virulent
