France reports first cases of coronavirus variant first detected in India

A case of the coronavirus variant first detected in India has now been detected in mainlandFrance,regional health agency director Benoit Elleboode said Thursday.

A first case, involving a woman who travelled to India and is living in southwesternFrance, was confirmed on Thursday, the ministry said. Two other people who travelled to India were infected with the so-called Indian variant in southeasternFrance, the ministry said.

France has beenimposing entry restrictions on travellers from India to fight a contagious coronavirus variant spreading in that country. Theyneed to pass a mandatory antigen test upon their arrival, in addition to a pre-boarding PCR test.

The variant, named B.1.617, has been reported in some 17 countries, raising global concern.

Thevariant contains two key mutations to the outer "spike" portion of the virus that attaches to human cells.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said the predominant lineage of B.1.617 was first identified inIndialast December, although an earlier version was spotted in October 2020.

The WHO has described it as a "variant of interest", suggesting it may have mutations that would make the virus more transmissible, cause more severe disease or evade vaccine immunity. Other strains with known risks, such as those first detected in the United Kingdom, Brazil and South Africa, have been categorised as "variants of concern," a higher threat level.

Indiareported 379,257 new infections and 3,645 new deaths on Thursday, health ministry data showed, the highest number of fatalities in a single day since the start of the pandemic.

(With inputs from agencies)