First Case of Brazil 'Manaus Variant Virus' Infection Reported in the UK

On the morning of the 27th, when Pfizer vaccine administration began for medical staff treating COVID-19 patients, the Pfizer vaccine was waiting to be thawed at room temperature in the vaccination room of the Central Vaccination Center at the National Medical Center in Jung-gu, Seoul. /Photo by Joint Press Corps

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] The UK Public Health England (PHE) announced on the 28th of last month (local time) that cases infected with the COVID-19 variant virus (P.1) discovered in Manaus, Brazil, have been reported in the UK for the first time.

As of that day, PHE identified a total of six cases infected with the Manaus variant virus, with three cases each in England and Scotland. PHE explained that among the two cases confirmed in England, both had a history of travel to Brazil, but the infection route of one case remains unknown. The confirmed case in Scotland was unrelated to those in England and was diagnosed positive while undergoing a mandatory 10-day self-quarantine after arriving in London via Paris.

Among the infected in England, one person had taken a Swiss Airlines passenger flight that arrived at London Heathrow Airport on the 10th of last month, traveling from S?o Paulo, Brazil, via Zurich. Accordingly, PHE is tracing 136 passengers on that flight and testing cohabiting family members.

The Manaus variant virus shares some similarities with the variant virus from the Republic of South Africa. PHE is concerned that the vaccines currently being administered may be less effective. According to the UK daily The Telegraph, this is the first reported case of the P.1 variant virus outside Brazil since the case involving a passenger on a flight to Japan. Another Brazilian variant virus, 'P.2,' was reported in the UK in January.

Susan Hopkins, PHE's Strategic Response Lead, stated, "Due to the UK's advanced genetic sequencing capabilities, more variants and mutations are being discovered here than in other countries."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.