Fears new fast-spreading Covid variant dubbed 'the real deal' is in UK already
Experts have claimed a new Covid variant could already be circulating in the UK.
The new novel Omicron subvariant, which has dozens of mutations, has been detected in Israel and Denmark - and scientists back home believe it is worth keeping an eye on because of its unique characteristics.
It has not been officially named, but has been referred to in the scientific community as 'BA.6'.
One expert claimed yesterday that she had seen WhatsApp group chats 'buzzing' with concern over the possible spread of the variant - and warned that people should consider wearing masks again.
Dr Trisha Greenhalgh, a primary healthcare expert at the University of Oxford, wrote on Twitter: "My various science WhatsApp groups are buzzing. Genetic lineage clips and diagrams flying back and forth. I understand little of the detail but it looks like it's once again time to MASK UP."
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A new Covid variant could be in the UK 'very soon', experts say (Getty Images)The new strain of the virus is thought to display an unusual ability to mutate - potentially making it able to circulate more efficiently. Infectious disease specialist Professor Paul Hunter, from the University of East Anglia, told the MailOnline on Wednesday that BA.6 variant had "probably" started spreading in the UK already. He added: "If it isn't now, then it probably very soon will be."
Another epidemiologist from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said the new variant could be named 'Pi', which follows Omicron in the Greek alphabet. One prominent disease tracking expert has even dubbed it the 'real deal'.
Covid cases have been rising - but hospitalisations remain low compared to the peak of the pandemicUnique mutations are sometimes found in people with severe Covid infections or chronic illnesses - but Shay Fleishon, a former advisor to the Central Virology Laboratory at Sheba Medical Centre, told the Jerusalem Post that this was not true of the case recorded in Israel. He later wrote on Twitter: "S**t just got real. Two more seq of the variant I alerted about yesterday popped in Denmark."
The warning over the new subvariant comes amid concerns that another Covid fast-spreading variant is fuelling a rise in cases and hospitalisations. At the start of last month, 3.3 people out of 100,000 had Covid but this has now jumped significantly, with 7.2 having the virus as of July 29. One in ten Covid cases are estimated to belong to the so-called Eris variant, though hospitalisations from all strains of Covid remain low, according to the UKHSA. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared Eris a variant of interest, and is asking countries to monitor it as cases grow globally.
Most Eris symptoms are said to similar to the symptoms of Omicron - such as a sore throat, a runny nose, sneezing, and a headache. However, shortness of breath, a loss of smell and a fever are no longer the main symptoms. According to the NHS website, people who display Covid symptoms should "try to stay at home" and "avoid contact with other people". Under current guidance, it is safe to go back to your normal everyday activities as soon as you feel better or do not have a high temperature.
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