The corona variant that is driving the outbreak in Trondheim is more easily transmitted than the common delta virus and will become dominant in Norway, the National Institute of Public Health (FHI) believes.
British researchers have shown that the variety has spread more easily than other delta varieties, and it is expected that the variety will become dominant in the UK. The same will probably happen in Norway, Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) reports.
“I think it will take over even if it has only a small competitive advantage compared to the other delta variants,” section leader at the FHI Karoline Bragstad noted.
There is no evidence that the vaccines are less effective on this variant or that it causes a more serious course of the disease.
One in four cases
In a press release, Trondheim Municipality wrote that the variant, which is called AY. 4.2., is more contagious than previously known delta variants but not more dangerous.
64% of the cases of this variant have been detected in Trøndelag. Of the 81 analyzed samples in Trøndelag since October 1, the variant accounts for 26% of the samples.
“The FHI states that they have many samples from Trøndelag for analysis and must wait for the latest results to say whether the increase in infection in Trøndelag is driven by AY. 4.2.,” Trondheim Municipality stated in the press release.
No changes in the strategy
There will be no changes in Trondheim’s strategy against the spread of infection as a result of the variant.
It is already known that delta variants can cause increased infection among children, and this also applies to this new variant.
“We have not registered that this sub-variant deviates from what we otherwise observed. We do not know which patients have this variant, but it makes up a quarter of the cases in week 43,” the municipal chief medical officer in Trondheim Tove Røsstad stated.
Source: © NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today / #NorwayTodayNews
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