Recently, the spread of the new coronavirus infection (Corona 19) has somewhat subsided, but the gloomy prospect has not disappeared. The quarantine authorities pointed out the mutant virus in the UK and South Africa as the biggest variable for future quarantine, and warned that “the nightmare of December could be reproduced.” At first, mutant viruses are known to have higher transmission power than existing viruses, but are not related to the fatality rate, but as the British government announced that it could increase the fatality rate, there are growing concerns that it could be a new fire in future responses.
In the afternoon of the 30th of last month, information about a flight to the UK is displayed on an electronic board at Incheon International Airport Terminal 2. News 1
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“Corona Challenge, getting tough and scared”
‘Mutation’, the largest variable for future quarantine response
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Authorities “may return to nightmares in December”
– Kwon Joon-wook, head of the 2nd vice president of the Central Defense Response Headquarters of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, expressed concern at regular briefings on the 23rd by writing expressions such as “I’m afraid” and “I’m afraid” in relation to the mutant virus. Deputy General Manager Kwon said, “With 100 million corona 19 confirmed cases around the world, the domestic situation as a whole is maintaining a decreasing trend.” “However, the challenge of Corona 19 is getting stronger and even more scary. I said. He said, “It is the key to the appearance of the mutation.”
Deputy General Manager Kwon was also concerned that it could return to mid-December, when the number of new confirmed cases soared to 1,240 a day. He said, “There are announcements that as various mutations are discovered one after another in various parts of the world, the severity as well as the spreading speed increases. If the British mutation spreads widely, it could go back to the nightmare of mid-December last year.”
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Joon-Wook Kwon, Head of the 2nd Vice President, Central Defense Countermeasure Headquarters. yunhap news
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“Not only mutation and propagation power, but also high fatality rate”
– This warning by the authorities is not unrelated to the announcement that, contrary to what has been known, mutant viruses could lead to higher mortality in the UK.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on the 22nd (local time) that there is evidence that the mutant virus found in London and elsewhere could be associated with a higher fatality rate. It spreads 30-70% faster than the existing Corona 19 virus, but it is different from the initial analysis that it does not appear to be more lethal. The British government said, “If the number of deaths per 1,000 male patients with Corona 19 in their 60s was about 10, the mutant virus is expected to increase to 13-14.” It was explained that more analysis was needed because it was only the initial data, but it was the first mention that it could increase the fatality rate. The Financial Times (FT) of the UK said, “The impact on the absolute risk is small in healthy children and young adults who are extremely unlikely to die from corona, but it is a big impact on the already high-risk group 80 years and older.”
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The Corona 19 Inspection Center, located at Incheon International Airport Terminal 2 on the 10th. yunhap news
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Deputy General Manager Kwon Jun-wook said, “There is already a talk that the infectivity increases by an average of 50% in relation to mutations originating in the UK, but the fatality rate is also high by about 30%, so I am very afraid.” “Therapies and vaccines are also facing challenges. In the worst case, there is a possibility that the effect will be compromised.” If not only the actual transmission power but also the fatality rate is high, it may be necessary to rebuild the existing quarantine system to respond to the mutant virus.
58 full-length genome analyzes since October, “must expand”
– Experts emphasize that more research is needed regarding the fatality rate, but it is necessary to expand the full-length genome analysis to evaluate the risk of the domestic mutant virus.
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On the afternoon of the 19th, overseas immigrants are receiving guidance from quarantine officials at the arrivals hall in Terminal 1 of Incheon International Airport. yunhap news
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Kim Woo-joo, a professor of infectious medicine at Korea University’s Guro Hospital, said in connection with the announcement in the UK, “It is not possible to distinguish whether the actual virulence of the mutant virus has increased and the mortality rate has risen, or whether the mortality rate has risen due to overload of the medical system.” It seems as true as it does, but the high fatality rate can only be accepted as an orthodox if it is reproduced elsewhere.”
Professor Kim, however, said, “It is surprising to have presented the possibility (that the fatality rate may be high).” The authorities are conducting a full-length genome analysis of confirmed patients coming from countries such as the UK and South Africa to check whether the mutant virus has been introduced into Korea. From October last year to the 18th, there were 58 cases, and mutations were confirmed in 18 cases, including 15 cases in the UK, 2 cases in South Africa, and 1 case in Brazil.
Reporter Hwang Soo-yeon [email protected]
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