On Monday March 15, 2021, the Directorate General of Health announced the appearance in Brittany of a new variant of the coronavirus: the Breton variant, which appeared near Lannion. Should we be alarmed?
by Mathilde Wattecamps
Since the emergence and worldwide spread of Sars-Cov-2, many variants have circulated. How do they appear? The virus makes small mutations in the genome in order to survive and adapt, which creates variants of the disease.
These are "more contagious than the classic Covid-19 and are gradually replacing it. They represent more than two thirds of contaminations in France" Olivier Véran underlined during a press conference on March 11, 2021. Monday, March 15, 2021, the appearance of a Breton variant is confirmed on the side of Lannion. Should we be alarmed?
First, why is the spotlight on this new variant? Because, according to a hospital source delivering the Telegram daily on March 10, 2021: "What worried us is the fact that patients have done up to four negative PCR tests. We therefore suspected a new variant, the specificity of which seemed to result in a virtual absence of the virus in the nasopharyngeal area. , which therefore made it undetectable… ".
However, at the moment it is only circulating on a smaller scale and does not appear to be more dangerous than the classic form of Covid-19. It is one of the so-called "to follow" variants by the scientific community. The problem is constituted by more identified variants.
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The Brazilian, South African and British variants to watch closely
Certain mutations appear to be much more worrying for the medical community around the world. The most closely watched forms of the virus are the so-called Brazilian, South African and British variants, so named because of where they have been formally identified as different from the classical form of Sars-Cov-2.
The first two, Brazilian and South African, represent on average only 5% of cases across France in March 2021 according to the Parisian. They are measured together because they have a common mutation. Why are they more watched? While both present symptoms similar to the classic form of Covid-19, these variants are, on the other hand, more transmissible, and the cause of possible re-infections. The hope of acquired immunity after a first contagion is therefore diminishing.
The English variant is the most alarming: in the report for March 11, 2021, Santé Publique France confirms that it represents 65.8% of the tests screened in France, over the week of March 1 to 7, 2021. It is both more contagious and potentially more dangerous. Quoted by Le Parisien, researcher Björn Meyer explains that for the English variant, a "mutation allows the virus to enter cells much more efficiently. But this is still only a hypothesis and we have to conduct experiments that will confirm or reject it," specifies the researcher.
The French Public Health Agency corroborates this greater danger and speaks of increased transmissibility (from 36 to 75%) associated with a more severe form of the disease and higher mortality. A study published on March 10, 2021 in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) found a 64% higher risk of death at 28 days for the British variant than for the so-called "classic" strain of the virus.
The Breton variant is therefore relatively uneasy in comparison with its counterparts widespread in the territory. It reminds us, however, of the importance of continuing to be vigilant and vigilant, because reinfection is possible, it may go undetected and this virus continues to reveal unforeseen aspects in its course.