The new variant of the coronavirus, called AY.4.2, was detected in Italyreported the daily Il Messaggero. The subvariant, more contagious than Delta, was discovered in the UK and a case was also reported this week in Israel.
“Up to now only nine cases have been registered in an estimated period between September and October”Reported the Italian media.
The data comes from a study carried out by experts from the Ceinge-Advanced Biotechnologies research center in Naples, where they analyzed the genetic sequences contained in the international Gisaid database.
In the United Kingdom, a Downing Street spokesman assured that they will monitor “closely” the new variant, which already represents about 10 percent of cases from the country.
British scientists indicated that variant AY.4.2. is between 10 and 15 percent more contagious than Delta and its peculiarity consists of two mutations, A222V and Y145H, present in the Spike protein, which the coronavirus uses to attack cells.
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