By Nicolas zaugra
Published on
updated on 10 Aug 21 at 19:33
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Variant Delta, Alpha, Beta, Gamma … In recent months, the names of variants of Covid-19 have multiplied in the medical and media landscape. While France is currently in the middle of a Delta wave (ex-Indian), the “Gamma” (Brazilian) variant continues to circulate in the Grand Est region.
Its evolution “fluctuates from one Flash survey to another, but the progression detected during the Flash # 13 survey is being confirmed”, explain Public Health France and the Pasteur Institute in a document made public at the end of July.
Identified in early February in France, the Gamma variant would have emerged in December 2020 in Manaus (Brazil). Preliminary data “shows a prevalence of 2.5%, although this represented only 19 detections in total. The vast majority of these detections concern the Grand Est region (14/19 sequences, ie 13% of the 111 interpretable sequences for the region, ”explains the health agency.
The “Gamma” variant, or ex-Brazilian
This variant is also known as the Brazilian variant. At the start of the year, it worried the health authorities for its distribution in eastern France, particularly in Moselle, as well as the South African variant. It is also strongly present in Guyana which is very affected by this wave of August 2021.
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« Variant plus transmissible »
The variant is under study and it appears, according to the first reports, as more contagious.
Several studies show a greater transmissibility compared to strains other than variants (from 40 to 120%). In addition, this variant would have the ability to escape the immune response induced by first contact with original strains, and could therefore increase the risk of reinfection.
The impact of vaccination on this variant is still under study. According to initial data, this Brazilian variant has two mutations E484K and N501Y on the Spike protein. The first would allow viruses to escape antibodies during reinfection or after vaccination.
Upsurge in Luxembourg
According to the study by Public Health France published on July 27, Luxembourg “recently reported a very strong upsurge, with a prevalence of 71% of this VOC during week 26 (end of June-beginning of July), 60% during the week next “.
“This recrudescence would have occurred from week 25, during which took place important festivities linked to the national holiday (June 23) and on this occasion, a large cluster linked to this variant which would have subsequently disseminated in the general population, ”explains Santé Publique France.
In addition, the German states of Saarland and Rhineland-Palatinate, both bordering Luxembourg and close to the Grand Est region, are also concerned by a recent upsurge in the detection of this variant (around 19% and 12% respectively on the week of July 12 to 17).
It is therefore likely that the increase in the detection of Gamma in the border area between Luxembourg, France and Germany is at least partly linked to the situation in Luxembourg.
A minority variant already in decline
According to Public Health France, “the most recent screening data for mutations (…) for the Grand Est region indicate a drop in the detection of variants carrying the E484K mutation (including Gamma), after a transient increase at the end of June and a peak at around 25% at the beginning of July, in parallel with a strong progression from Delta ”.
“These data are therefore in favor of a decrease in the circulation of Gamma recently in the region”, concludes the study.
Note that the variant Delta is the majority in the region : more than 90% in most of the departments.
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