Completely new strain of coronavirus identified in the UK and 9 other countries

The new strain has a “potentially alarming set of mutations”, according to The Guardian. It was called B1525. In particular, researchers are concerned about the E484K mutation in the spike protein, which is also present in the Brazilian and South African variants and, according to experts, makes the virus more resistant to antibodies.

So far, B1525 has been detected:

 in the UK – 35 patients;

in Denmark – 35 patients;

in Nigeria – in 12 patients;

in the USA – in 7 patients;

in France – in 5 patients;

in Ghana – in <5 patients;

in Australia – in <5 patients;

in Canada – in <5 patients;

in Jordan – in <5 patients;

in Spain – in <5 patients.