Mutations from Britain, South Africa, but also from Brazil, are of particular concern to the scientific community, said Professor and member of the Committee of Experts of the Ministry of Health Charalambos Gogos.
As he explained, in a city in Brazil the mutated coronavirus strain prevailed in 50% of cases, while so far there has been a case in Germany.
“It follows from these three strains, especially for the last two that we do not know, that they have a greater potential to enter our cells and infect the virus, they have the ability to bind more easily and faster to the protein spike and cause disease Noted Mr. Gogos.
“Mutations are an important problem for the scientific community, especially at this critical time,” he said. There are thousands of mutations that do not give a comparative advantage to viruses and many of them are repairable. At the same time, some of them prevail, which give them comparative advantages.
He said, speaking to SKAI, that it is better for a virus to be 50% heavier than 50% more contagious because then the deaths are much higher.
“There may be a problem with monoclonal antibody therapy,” he said of the mutations.
The committee member again focused on the proper use of the mask, stating that the right mask also protects against mutants.
“We need to do frequent surveillance, on a sampling basis, but also in special cases of re-infection, people who are re-infected may be associated with the mutated virus therefore should be screened. That means more tests and especially tests with the special genetic sequence, “he said.
“People infected with the coronavirus seem to have long-term effects, mainly on the respiratory system with fibrosis that is caused and remains, but also with neurological complications and psychiatric complications, which remain in the long run and can cause morbidity and mortality,” he said. .
