Strains of SARS-CoV-2 virus cause concern in the Americas

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12 February 2021

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Washington, Feb 12 (Prensa Latina) The circulation of three strains of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus - the cause of the Covid-19 pandemic - in 20 countries of the Americas is causing greater concern today, according to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).

In a recent epidemiological update, the regional organization detailed that the SARS-CoV-2 strain VOC 202012/01 (identified in the United Kingdom) is currently found in 17 Latin American countries, while 501Y.V2 strain (South Africa) and B.1.1.2810 strain (Brazil) were registered in four countries each.

PAHO detailed that so far the United States has been the only country to report the detection of the three strains, while Argentina, Brazil, Canada and Peru have reported two of them. The rest of the countries and territories have only registered one.

The document clarifies that the appearance of mutations is a normal process in the evolution of viruses. Precisely, since February 2020, a total of 37 countries and territories in the Americas have documented over 113,000 SARS-CoV-2 genomes.

'Having genomic sequencing data can improve the preparedness and response actions of public healthcare systems to any viral disease of epidemic and pandemic potential,' ensured Sylvain Aldighieri, deputy director of Health Emergencies at PAHO/WHO (World Health Organization).

In recent weeks, the Americas continues to be the region most affected by Covid-19, with new diagnoses exceeding half of the total reported worldwide.