The coronavirus pandemic is now one year old, however, now the Wuhan virus has been mutating - changing shape, picking pace and infecting more people.

Virus mutations have been common. The Wuhan virus has mutated some 4,000 times, however, the world heard about it last month because one particular mutation was dangerous - called the UK strain. The new strain spreads faster and it has reached at least 13 countries including India.

The latest cases of the mutated UK strain is in India. The mutation has been found in six patients, all of them recently returned from the United Kingdom. The vaccines are round the corner but the threat is not past. This is not the time to let your guard down. The UK mutation is 70 per cent more infectious and more dangerous. &nbsp;

There were six cases of the UK strain in India even after India banned flights from the UK. These six people had already landed in India before the flight ban - they are all Indian citizens. Three of them are in Bengaluru, two in Hyderabad and one in Pune - all of them are in single room isolation.

Those who came in contact with them have been quarantined.&nbsp;

The UK strain is not deadlier but it spreads faster. The Wuhan virus has undergone 17 different changes and turned into what is called the UK variant. These 17 changes make it more infectious, and it spreads faster from one person to another. Also, from one cell to another.

The mutated virus spreads more quickly in the human body and it takes over a cell, replicates, enters another cell and repeats at a fast pace. It can potentially overwhelm your immune response make it harder for our body to fight back which means, more serious cases.

It could even mean more deaths and children and young people may be more vulnerable to this infection. Stepping up surveillance and contact tracing is one of the solutions. Reports say 33,000 passengers arrived from the UK between November 25 and December 23.

State governments across India are now reaching out to these passengers. They are being given swab tests and their contacts are also being tested. India however is finally looking at good news with fewer cases, fewer deaths. The pandemic has finally been controlled.

New infections fell to their lowest in more than six months. New cases have dropped below 20,000 for the second time in seven days but India isn't letting its guard down. The government has issued new guidelines with states and Union territories asked to keep a strict vigil.

A lot of hope is riding on vaccines. The good news is they will which is what most vaccine makers claim. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is being given in the US, UK and Europe. The company says the vaccine will be effective, if needed, they can modify it within six weeks the same is the case with the Oxford vaccine.

The Oxford vaccine makers AstraZeneca says the vaccine should be effective against mutations. The Oxford vaccine is yet to be approved by regulators for emergency use. It is the frontrunner in India. Indian drug regulators are reviewing the trial data of the Oxford vaccine with the rollout expected in January.

India has already conducted dry runs in four states. The Serum Institute has the license to supply the Oxford shots in India. Reports say the company has already made 40 to 50 million dozes also reviewing the Oxford shot is the United Kingdom.&nbsp;

Reports say London could give the green light by Thursday and India should follow soon after but it will be a while before everyone gets a shot. In the meantime wear your mask, wash your hands, avoid crowded spaces and maintain social distancing.

The best strategies are the simplest as legendary molecular biologist Joshua Lederberg described humanity's struggle against new diseases: "It's our wits versus their genes".

The coronavirus pandemic is now one year old, however, now the Wuhan virus has been mutating - changing shape, picking pace and infecting more people. Virus mutations have been common.

The coronavirus pandemic is now one year old, however, now the Wuhan virus has been mutating - changing shape, picking pace and infecting more people. Virus mutations have been common. The Wuhan virus has mutated some 4,000 times, however, the world heard about it last month because one particular mutation was dangerous - called the UK strain. The new strain spreads faster and it has reached at least 13 countries including India. The latest cases of the mutated UK strain is in India. The mutation has been found in six patients, all of them recently returned from the United Kingdom. The vaccines are round the corner but the threat is not past. This is not the time to let your guard down. The UK mutation is 70 per cent more infectious and more dangerous. There were six cases of the UK strain in India even after India banned flights from the UK. These six people had already landed in India before the flight ban - they are all Indian citizens. Three of them are in Bengaluru, two in Hyderabad and one in Pune - all of them are in single room isolation. Those who came in contact with them have been quarantined. The UK strain is not deadlier but it spreads faster. The Wuhan virus has undergone 17 different changes and turned into what is called the UK variant. These 17 changes make it more infectious, and it spreads faster from one person to another. Also, from one cell to another. The mutated virus spreads more quickly in the human body and it takes over a cell, replicates, enters another cell and repeats at a fast pace. It can potentially overwhelm your immune response make it harder for our body to fight back which means, more serious cases. It could even mean more deaths and children and young people may be more vulnerable to this infection. Stepping up surveillance and contact tracing is one of the solutions. Reports say 33,000 passengers arrived from the UK between November 25 and December 23. State governments across India are now reaching out to these passengers. They are being given swab tests and their contacts are also being tested. India however is finally looking at good news with fewer cases, fewer deaths. The pandemic has finally been controlled. New infections fell to their lowest in more than six months. New cases have dropped below 20,000 for the second time in seven days but India isn't letting its guard down. The government has issued new guidelines with states and Union territories asked to keep a strict vigil. A lot of hope is riding on vaccines. The good news is they will which is what most vaccine makers claim. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is being given in the US, UK and Europe. The company says the vaccine will be effective, if needed, they can modify it within six weeks the same is the case with the Oxford vaccine. The Oxford vaccine makers AstraZeneca says the vaccine should be effective against mutations. The Oxford vaccine is yet to be approved by regulators for emergency use. It is the frontrunner in India. Indian drug regulators are reviewing the trial data of the Oxford vaccine with the rollout expected in January. India has already conducted dry runs in four states. The Serum Institute has the license to supply the Oxford shots in India. Reports say the company has already made 40 to 50 million dozes also reviewing the Oxford shot is the United Kingdom. Reports say London could give the green light by Thursday and India should follow soon after but it will be a while before everyone gets a shot. In the meantime wear your mask, wash your hands, avoid crowded spaces and maintain social distancing. The best strategies are the simplest as legendary molecular biologist Joshua Lederberg described humanity's struggle against new diseases: "It's our wits versus their genes".

Why the Wuhan virus has now become deadlier

As European nations clamped down its borders with England over the new <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/we-will-sit-at-family-tables-missing-a-familiar-face-who-chief-tedros-shares-christmas-message-352326">coronavirus</a> variant, Germany identified the first case of the new strain.

Watch:

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Baden-Wuerttemberg state's health ministry said: "It is the first known case in Germany."

Reports said the carrier was a woman who arrived at Germany's Frankfurt airport on December 20 from London. She was immediately taken to a quarantine centre after she tested positive for the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/did-us-infectious-disease-expert-fauci-lie-or-move-goalposts-on-virus-vaccine-352331">virus</a>.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/not-true-south-africa-denies-new-variant-is-deadlier-than-uks-strain-352306">Also Read:&nbsp;'Not true': South Africa denies new variant is deadlier than UK's strain</a>

"Today the virus variant B.1.1.7 was detected there," the state health ministry said. Germany has banned flights from the United Kingdom after PM Johnson last Saturday had declared that the new virus variant was "70 per cent" more transferable.

Germany's health minister had said last week that the new virus strain&nbsp;"has no impact on the vaccines" and was "effective" against the new variant.

The country has also banned all flight arrivals from South Africa until January 6 after the UK declared the new virus variant had emerged from the African country. Several countries including Norway, Denmark and China have banned flights from the UK.

Canada has also suspended flights from the UK until early January.

Germany had announced Germany a partial lockdown last week after a surge in cases and has cancelled its famous Christmas markets. The country recorded 30,000 new infections last week despite the lockdown in force as it continues to battle the pandemic.

The worst-hit coronavirus cases in the country at the moment are in Germany's eastern region in Bautzen and Goerlitz districts in Saxony where coronavirus rates currently stand at 600 per 100,000 people.

As European nations clamped down its borders with England over the new coronavirus variant, Germany identified the first case of the new strain. Watch: Baden-Wuerttemberg state's health ministry said: "It is the first known case in Germany.

As European nations clamped down its borders with England over the new coronavirus variant, Germany identified the first case of the new strain. Watch: Baden-Wuerttemberg state's health ministry said: "It is the first known case in Germany." Reports said the carrier was a woman who arrived at Germany's Frankfurt airport on December 20 from London. She was immediately taken to a quarantine centre after she tested positive for the virus. Also Read: 'Not true': South Africa denies new variant is deadlier than UK's strain "Today the virus variant B.1.1.7 was detected there," the state health ministry said. Germany has banned flights from the United Kingdom after PM Johnson last Saturday had declared that the new virus variant was "70 per cent" more transferable. Germany's health minister had said last week that the new virus strain "has no impact on the vaccines" and was "effective" against the new variant. The country has also banned all flight arrivals from South Africa until January 6 after the UK declared the new virus variant had emerged from the African country. Several countries including Norway, Denmark and China have banned flights from the UK. Canada has also suspended flights from the UK until early January. Germany had announced Germany a partial lockdown last week after a surge in cases and has cancelled its famous Christmas markets. The country recorded 30,000 new infections last week despite the lockdown in force as it continues to battle the pandemic. The worst-hit coronavirus cases in the country at the moment are in Germany's eastern region in Bautzen and Goerlitz districts in Saxony where coronavirus rates currently stand at 600 per 100,000 people.

Germany reports first case of new virus strain as woman arrives at Frankfurt airport from London

The scientists in South Africa believe that the news Covid-19 mutant found in the country is likely to be more transmissible, may hit young people harder, and maybe slightly more resistant to vaccines. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-covid-19-strain-from-south-africa-detected-in-uk-health-secretary-matt-hancock-351873">Also read | New COVID-19 strain from South Africa detected in UK: Health secretary Matt Hancock</a>

The new strain, called the 501.V2 Variant, was first discovered in South African province Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape.

South African Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize said the new COVID-19 strain has three mutations and has spread in South Africa. The first case of this COVID-19 mutant was reported in Nelson Mandela Bay.

The new coronavirus strain has affected many young people and those with no pre-existing health conditions.

Dr Richard Lessells, an infectious diseases expert in South Africa, said the efficacy of existing vaccines against this variant could not be ascertained. Another red flag was the possibility of reinfection in those people who have already contracted coronavirus.

Meanwhile, with reports of a new strain over eight countries have so far closed doors to passengers coming from South Africa. Germany, Turkey, Israel, Switzerland, the UK, Uzbekistan and the Netherlands aren’t permitting any flights from South Africa to enter their country.

South African Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said that people experiencing no symptoms have been testing positive for the virus, adding, "The evidence that has been collated, therefore, strongly suggests that the current second wave we are experiencing is being driven by this new variant," reported ANI.

(With inputs from agencies)

The scientists in South Africa believe that the news Covid-19 mutant found in the country is likely to be more transmissible, may hit young people harder, and maybe slightly more resistant to vaccines.

The scientists in South Africa believe that the news Covid-19 mutant found in the country is likely to be more transmissible, may hit young people harder, and maybe slightly more resistant to vaccines. Also read | New COVID-19 strain from South Africa detected in UK: Health secretary Matt Hancock The new strain, called the 501.V2 Variant, was first discovered in South African province Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape. South African Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize said the new COVID-19 strain has three mutations and has spread in South Africa. The first case of this COVID-19 mutant was reported in Nelson Mandela Bay. The new coronavirus strain has affected many young people and those with no pre-existing health conditions. Dr Richard Lessells, an infectious diseases expert in South Africa, said the efficacy of existing vaccines against this variant could not be ascertained. Another red flag was the possibility of reinfection in those people who have already contracted coronavirus. Meanwhile, with reports of a new strain over eight countries have so far closed doors to passengers coming from South Africa. Germany, Turkey, Israel, Switzerland, the UK, Uzbekistan and the Netherlands aren’t permitting any flights from South Africa to enter their country. South African Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said that people experiencing no symptoms have been testing positive for the virus, adding, "The evidence that has been collated, therefore, strongly suggests that the current second wave we are experiencing is being driven by this new variant," reported ANI. (With inputs from agencies)

New Covid-19 mutant found in South Africa spreads more swiftly

As the UK battles a new strain of coronavirus, UK health secretary Matt Hancock said another new strain of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/as-trump-rejects-covid-19-stimulus-package-us-orders-another-100-million-pfizer-biontech-vaccine-doses-351856">COVID-19 </a>has been detected which has originated from South Africa.

Watch:

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"Anyone who has been in South Africa during the last fortnight or anyone who was&nbsp;in close contact with anyone in South Africa must be quarantined immediately," Hancock said, adding, "all travellers from South Africa in the past two weeks must isolate immediately due to the new variant which has been identified."

"The development is “highly concerning” because the new variant is more transmissible and appears to have mutated further," he added. Hancock said South Africa has been placed in immediate travel restriction with two cases detected in the country.

As the virus continues to surge in the country, the health secretary informed that there has been a significant number of new variant cases rising in East Anglia.

Hancock announced that Essex, Norfolk, Sussex, Surrey, Oxfordshire and Hampshire will enter Tier 4 restrictions from Boxing Day while Bristol, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Swindon, Isle of Wight, New Forest, Northamptonshire, Cheshire and Warrington enter Tier 3 restrictions.

"Cornwall and Herefordshire will go into Tier 2 from&nbsp;Boxing Day," he said.

British PM Johnson last Saturday had said a new strain of the virus was discovered which was "70 per cent" more transferable while announcing&nbsp;Tier 4 lockdown measures across England.

The&nbsp; British PM's revelation had lead several countries to impose travel restrictions on UK which is expected to continue in the New Year.

As the UK battles a new strain of coronavirus, UK health secretary Matt Hancock said another new strain of COVID-19 has been detected which has originated from South Africa.

As the UK battles a new strain of coronavirus, UK health secretary Matt Hancock said another new strain of COVID-19 has been detected which has originated from South Africa. Watch: "Anyone who has been in South Africa during the last fortnight or anyone who was in close contact with anyone in South Africa must be quarantined immediately," Hancock said, adding, "all travellers from South Africa in the past two weeks must isolate immediately due to the new variant which has been identified." "The development is “highly concerning” because the new variant is more transmissible and appears to have mutated further," he added. Hancock said South Africa has been placed in immediate travel restriction with two cases detected in the country. As the virus continues to surge in the country, the health secretary informed that there has been a significant number of new variant cases rising in East Anglia. Hancock announced that Essex, Norfolk, Sussex, Surrey, Oxfordshire and Hampshire will enter Tier 4 restrictions from Boxing Day while Bristol, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Swindon, Isle of Wight, New Forest, Northamptonshire, Cheshire and Warrington enter Tier 3 restrictions. "Cornwall and Herefordshire will go into Tier 2 from Boxing Day," he said. British PM Johnson last Saturday had said a new strain of the virus was discovered which was "70 per cent" more transferable while announcing Tier 4 lockdown measures across England. The British PM's revelation had lead several countries to impose travel restrictions on UK which is expected to continue in the New Year.

New COVID-19 strain from South Africa detected in UK: Health secretary Matt Hancock

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Why the Wuhan virus has now become deadlier

Germany reports first case of new virus strain as woman arrives at Frankfurt airport from London

New Covid-19 mutant found in South Africa spreads more swiftly

New COVID-19 strain from South Africa detected in UK: Health secretary Matt Hancock