One of Scotland's top medics has said the government is 'appropriately worried' about a new variant strain of coronavirus spreading in South America.
Dr Nicola Steedman said that similar to the South African variant which is now the dominant strain in the UK, the Brazilian variant has a mutation which makes it more transmissible.
But she explained scientific studies have shown a second mutation which could reduce how susceptible the virus is to anti-bodies, one of the key treatments for people in hospital with Covid-19.
It was the combination of these two mutations which was causing concern, Dr Steedman said.
She added that there was also concern the second mutation could impact how effective the vaccines are, given they also rely on anti-bodies to protect people from the virus.
"We are appropriately worried. The reason for that is that this particular variant has been spreading really very fast and very widely in South America and now beyond that.
"What the Brazilian variant has that our UK variant doesn't have is another mutation, which is one that in scientific trials has been shown to be associated with a reduced level of susceptibility of that virus to anti-bodies.
"So that's why people are worried about that, because they are worried that some of the treatments that we use for Covid may not work against this new variant.
"Potentially, it could have some impact in terms of vaccine effectiveness.
To receive one WhatsApp message a day with Edinburgh Live's headlines, as well as breaking news alerts, text NEWS to 07899067815. Then add the number to your contacts as 'Edinburgh Live'.
"It's that really worrying combination that people are worried about," Dr Steedman said.
But she stressed people should not lie awake at night worried about the virus, saying work was underway to understand the virus.
Nicola Sturgeon said the variant stressed the importance for people to abide by the lockdown restrictions, especially around international travel which risks importing new strains to the country.
See everything that was announced by Nicola Sturgeon in the Scottish Government's update over on our live blog.
