New Mutated Strain of Coronavirus Identified in Denmark Has Pandemic Potential, Some Scientists Say
The State Serum Institute of Denmark, which deals with infectious diseases, has identified mink-related coronavirus versions in more than 200 individuals since June. This was according to the SSI's website, which was updated on November 5.
Reports on the issue said the officials chose this drastic option because of "novel coronavirus, as the pathogen developed" a possibly hazardous mutation inside the captive mink population.
In addition, reports also said that the mutated coronavirus has already infested at least 12 individuals in the country.
As a result, researchers are worried that this new strain found might be very dangerous that it could "effectively render the present vaccine candidates for COVID-19 useless.
Now, a new report delivers more worrying news as some scientists think that the mutated strain of coronavirus "has pandemic potential." Others, on the other hand, call for calm.
ALSO READ: Coronavirus Ancestor Discovered in Bat-Infested Mine in China, Possible Link to COVID-19
Mink carcasses are disposed of at a farm in Farre in the southern part of Jutland, Denmark October 21, 2020. Mink in all of the country is to be put down, the Danish prime minister said at a news conference on November 4th. The animals in some of Denmark's fur farms contain a novel coronavirus mutation.
Mutated Virus
According to vaccine expert and infectious disease director at Denmark's State Serum Institute or SSI, professor Kare Molbak, the worst-case scenario is that a new pandemic would start off in Denmark. There's a risk that the said mutated virus is quite different from the others "that we'd have to put new things in a vaccine," and thus, this mutation would "slam us all in the whole world back to the start."
The expert added that the virus might have measures in place, including COVID-19 testing and contagion control, and the pandemic would be contained to the best of the experts' knowledge.
However, Molbak explained minks are regarded as a public health risk based on the advice of the SSI after the said 12 individuals got infected with the mutated infection.
Virologist Allan Randrup Thomsen from the University of Copenhagen said Denmark was not "on the verge of being the next Wuhan," although there are still dangers.
This variant, the virologist added, could develop further to become totally resistant, and then, a vaccine no longer matters.
Therefore, said Thomsen, there is a need to take the mutation out of the equation, so this is a severe case. He also said Denmark needs to be shut down because of the danger from mink farms.
Researchers have not completely detailed the mutation, and there is a need for more data. Nonetheless, Dutch virologist, Wim van der Poel has provided little information about the mink coronavirus.
Specifically, he said, "We don't know what kind of vaccine we are going to have," and thus, further studies are needed.
DON'T MISS THIS: COVID-19+Cancer Combo, Now the Latest Fear
A Reason to Worry
Media reports said researchers don't have any idea if the mutated coronavirus has the ability to transmit well to humans. However, the 12 infected people individuals reported in Denmark have proven, there is indeed a reason to worry.
Ian Jones, a virologist from the University of Reading, said the virus would need to adjust inside the animals to penetrate cells.
Consequently, he told the media, it would adjust the spike protein to allow this to take place efficiently. Jones also said the risk is that "the mutated virus" could then spread back into humans and avoid any vaccine reaction which would have been developed to the spike protein's "original, non-mutated version," instead of the mink-modified version.
Experts in Finland think the decision of the Denmark government to kill all the mink populations on farms is very dangerous.
Instead, they recommend control measures already existing and being effectively implemented in the country. The 150 mink farms in Finland, according to reports, are all believed to be COVID-19 free.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Case Report at Children's National Hospital Raises Concern for Resistance to Antibiotic
Check out more news and information on COVID-19 on MD News Daily.
Nov 07, 2020 10:00 PM EST
