WHO Reports UK Coronavirus Variant Found in 50 Countries and Territories

The highly contagious coronavirus variant, first identified in the United Kingdom, has now been confirmed in 50 countries and territories. This was reported by the World Health Organization (WHO) in its weekly epidemiological update published on Wednesday in Geneva, according to TASS agency.

"Since the first detection on December 14 (of the coronavirus variant) VOC-202012/01, it has been found in 5 out of 6 WHO regions across 50 states/territories," the organization noted.

It was also highlighted that the coronavirus variant known as 501Y.V2, which initially emerged from South Africa, has been detected in 4 out of 6 WHO regions across 20 countries/territories. Additionally, on January 9, Japan reported to the WHO that four individuals arriving from Brazil tested positive for a new variant, B.1.1.28.

"It is known that viruses continually mutate, so the emergence of these new variants was expected," explained the WHO.

The identification of these variants underscores the importance of "expanding diagnostic capabilities for the SARS-CoV-2 virus and systematic sequencing studies," as well as providing timely information to the global community, the report noted.

It is worth reminding that the spread of the new variant was first reported by the UK’s health ministry on December 14. It is known to spread more rapidly, but information regarding its effects on the human body is still limited.

Cases of infection with the 'British' variant of the virus have also been found in several other European countries, including France, Germany, Denmark, Italy, as well as in Japan.