(Guardian of Trinidad) Yesterday the Ministry of Health confirmed that the Brazilian variant of the COVID-19 virus, much more transmissible than other strains, has been detected in Trinidad and Tobago.
The variation was detected in a sample sent to the University of the West Indies for genetic sequencing.
The sample was taken by a COVID-19 positive patient in Nariva / Mayaro county.
“The link tracking needed to limit the spread of the virus has already begun. In addition, the public is reminded that all quarantine protocols remain in place to ensure the continued protection of the people of Trinidad and Tobago, ”the ministry said in a statement.
This is the first time a variation of anxiety has been detected in the local population.
Variants in the UK (B117) and Brazil have been locally detected in the past, however, it has been found in returned nationals or people seeking entry to the country.
Earlier in March, Chief Medical Officer Dr Roshan Parasram noted that monitoring of samples for variations of concern from the local population began because the rate of spread was witnessing.
Prior to this point, only returned national samples were monitored.
Professor of Medicine in the Faculty of Medical Sciences of the University of the West Indies, Professor Terrence Seemungal, said he is not surprised by the development and believes the variation is already in circulation among the population.
“I don’t know enough details about the person (in whom the variation was found) whether or not the person was a passenger but if the person was found from inside the community, I would expect it has already spread, ”he said. .
Virology Professor Dr Christopher Oura stressed the need for the variation to be removed.
“We know how to get rid of this virus. We know what to do. We need to prove. We need to track and we need to track, ”he said.
“So we need to look very carefully at the area where it is circulating and make sure we test and we track and we track the virus so that we catch so many ‘ people or all people who are infected and we make sure those people are isolated. , we make sure those people don’t pass the virus on to others. ”
However, it does not believe that more restrictions are needed at this time.
“Not necessarily in response to this particular variation. I think what we have to do – we have to work out how far this particular variant spreads and we have to look at what other virus is spreading , ”He said.
Dr Oura noted that in doing this, it was necessary to determine how the variant was able to enter and handle the country.
He underlined that the presence of the variant meant that the public health guidelines and COVID-19 protocols needed to be adhered to even more closely.
Professor Seemungal added that the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is still effective against the variation in Brazil.
About the Various Anxiety of Brazil (P1)
This variation was first detected in samples of Manaus in the Amazonas province of northern Brazil in mid-December. Simulations of the properties of P1 suggest that the variation is 1.7 to 2.4 times more transferable.
It is not yet clear whether it is deadly. It can cause redefinition in people who were previously infected with another strain. Preliminary data indicate that the vaccine developed by AstraZeneca is effective against the unadjusted Brazilian variant of the vaccine.