Covid variants in the UK: What you need to know about them ALL from symptoms to cases as new Philippines strain detected
NEW Covid-19 variants are emerging in the UK that could be harbouring dangerous mutations.
The pandemic hit the UK over a year ago and since then the virus has evolved.
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It's common that viruses mutate as they attempt to evade vaccines and survive amongst the population.
Just yesterday it was revealed Public Health England (PHE) has launched a probe into a new variant from the Philippines, after two cases were discovered in the UK.
The health authority said the Covid variant contains a number of worrying mutations, including the E484K spike protein found in the Brazil strain.
But what are the main strains in circulation and how do they differ from one another?
The original strain
Covid-19, or 2019-nCoV as it was initially named, first emerged in Wuhan, China, in December 2019.
The virus itself is called SARS-CoV-2 by scientists as it is a sister to severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus, or SARS.
After the first few cases in China, it quickly spread around the globe before the World Health Organisation declared it a pandemic on March 11, 2020.
Symptoms: The NHS list the three main symptoms of the original strain of Covid-19 as a new persistent cough, a high temperature and a loss of taste and smell (anosmia).
Anosmia was added in May 2020 after a surge in patients testing positive displayed the symptom.
Experts have also revealed that children could experience different symptoms to adults.
Scientists behind the ZOE Symptom Tracker App previously said that kids are most like to have fatigue, headache, fever, sore throat and loss of appetite.
Kent strain
Following a worrying spike in Covid cases in the UK towards the end of last year, scientists began sequencing the virus.
They discovered it was a novel variant and traced it back to first emerging in Kent, south east England, in late September 2020.
Now more commonly known as the UK variant, you might also hear it referred to as the B.1.1.7 variant or VUI 202012/01, which stands for the first Variant Under Investigation in December 2020.
Scientists found it spread more easily and faster than other variants, forcing the Prime Minister to put the country into national lockdown on January 5, 2020.
Experts also discovered the variant could be up to 50 times more infectious than the previous strain.
Symptoms: People suffering with the Kent mutation are more likely to get a cough, sore throat, tiredness and muscle pain, according to experts.
The Office for National Statistics found the largest change in symptoms between the original virus and the UK variant is people are much less likely to report high temperatures.
The study found no real difference in reports of shortness of breath or headaches from patients with either the novel strain or the mutation.
Philippines strain
PHE yesterday revealed that two cases of a strain from the Philippines had been detected in the UK.
A statement from PHE read: “The variant includes a number of notable mutations including E484K and N501Y, which are found in several other variants of concern.
“Public Health England has identified two cases of this variant in England. One of the cases is linked with international travel and the other is currently under investigation.
“All appropriate public health interventions are being undertaken.”
It came after the Philippines reported 33 cases of a new variant on March 9.
The country has recently seen a surge in cases, with close to 10,000 fresh infections added to the total tally over the weekend.
Symptoms: It is not yet know if the symptoms from this strain differ from the three highlighted by the NHS.
South African strain
In South Africa, another variant called B.1.351 emerged independently of B.1.1.7, although it does share some mutations.
It has been found to spread about 60-70 per cent faster than the original strain.
This is because it has a mutation, known as E484K, which can bind to human cells quickly and infect them more easily.
Originally detected in early October 2020, it was first announced by the South African government on December 18.
In the UK, Health Secretary Matt Hancock revealed the new and “highly concerning” strain had entered Britain during a press briefing on December 23.
Oxford scientists previously revealed that the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab would now have to be tweaked in order to be effective against the new variant.
Vaccine minister Nadhim Zahawi assured Brits that the Oxford jab would still prevent deaths - despite a study suggesting it was less effective against mild disease caused by the strain.
Symptoms: It is not yet known if the South African strain has any different symptoms than the three standards ones highlighted by health officials.
Brazil strain
There are two new Covid strains to emerge from Brazil - experts are more worried about one than the other.
The first, a variant called P.1, emerged in early January after being detected in travellers during routine screening at an airport in Japan.
Experts say it is a descendant of lineage B.1.1.28 and contains a unique constellation of lineage defining mutations including E484K.
It also carries the N501Y mutation, a feature of the UK strain which has been linked to increased infectivity and virulence in studies.
Meanwhile, the E484K mutation is thought to be associated with evading neutralising antibodies produced by the body against the virus.
This variant isn't believed to have been detected in the UK.
The second variant is a different descendant of the same lineage - B.1.1.28, but doesn’t contain a constellation of mutations.
It does differ from its ancestral lineage in that it carries the mutation E484K.
P.2 has been reported to be spreading in the state of Rio de Janeiro and is associated with two independent reinfection cases in Brazil.
It does not contain the other important mutations carried by lineage P.1.
Last night PHE also announced that two further cases of the Brazil variant had been found in the London area of Haringey and the West Midlands.
Symptoms: It's not yet known whether symptoms of the Brazil variants are any different to the key signs listed by health officials.
Bristol mutation
Health experts previously revealed that the UK strain has acquired a mutation similar to the South African variant.
On February 2, Public Health England detected 11 cases in Bristol where the Kent variant had mutated to “escape” immune response.
Gene sequencing has shown that the E484K mutation has occurred spontaneously, according to PHE.
Until this point the mutation had only been associated with the South African and Brazil variants.
Experts say the “worrying development” means vaccination and natural immunity will prove less effective against these infections if they are allowed to spread.
Lab studies have shown that the E484K mutation means antibodies are less able to bind to a part of the virus known as the spike protein, in order to stop it from unlocking human cells to gain entry.
This variant has developed directly from the Kent strain and now includes a mutation called E484K, which allows the virus to evade vaccines more easily.
Symptoms: It's unclear whether or not symptoms differ from the three main ones outlined by the NHS.
Liverpool mutation
Another separate mutation of the original Covid variant appears to have emerged in the North East of England.
A cluster of 32 cases was detected in Liverpool last month and have been detected with the E484K mutation.
However it relates to the original strain of coronavirus that has been around since the start of the pandemic, and not the Kent variant.
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Regional PHE officials said the mutation detected in Liverpool was part of cases among staff at Liverpool Women's Hospital last month.
A cluster of an initial five cases was detected on January 10 among some staff who had attended an event outside the hospital, believed to be a funeral.
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In total Public Health England has identified 76 cases of these two new variants.
Symptoms: It's not year clear if these symptoms differ from those commonly associated with Covid-19.
