The discovery of a new coronavirus variant in the UK, which was detected in India, features two mutations that could be a cause for concern, an expert has said.
Public Health England reported that 73 cases of the B.1.617 variant have been confirmed in England as well as four cases in Scotland.
Officials have designated it a variant under investigation.
Paul Hunter, professor in medicine at the University of East Anglia, said the variant featured two “escape mutations” – E484Q and L452R – that “are causing people to be concerned”.
He added: “There’s laboratory evidence that both of these are escape mutations.
“Basically, applying what we know about other human coronaviruses would suggest that this is going to be even less controlled by vaccine.
“But we don’t know that for certain at the moment.”
