2024-08-30 04:00:06
On the Covid-19 side, the news is better! The virus continues to spread but “Indications are stable in the city and in the hospital”, according to a note from the Public Health of France (SPF) published on August 21. “The rate of hospitalization after going to the emergency room is moderate. »
The latest variant, KP.3.1.1, continues to proliferate worldwide. It is the background of the JN.1 variant which itself belongs to the Omicron family. Today, in France, KP.3.1.1 is in the majority and stands at around 48% of the processes as of July 22, according to the data of SPF. “KP.3.1.1 began distribution in France in mid-June and appears to have an advantage over other variants currently available, without it being possible to say at this stage whether it will replace other variants and make waves or not”explains Justine Schaeffer, an epidemiologist at SPF. Remember that SARS-CoV-2 is an RNA molecule. It is classified as a variant under caution (VUM), but, “To date, there are no worrying signs in terms of public health associated with it”notice SPF rate.
The difference of KP.3.1.1 is to have three changes in the spike protein, which allows the virus to attach to cells to infect them: F456L, Q493E and V110. These “registers” correspond to the position of amino acids, these molecules which are proteins, at the point of entry of the virus into the host. “KP.3.1.1 shows the deletion of serine in position 31 which can affect the virological characteristics in vitro: increased proliferation and enhanced ability to escape elimination by antibiotics”specify the SPF note.
“Behavior Change”
“KP.3.1.1 produces a little better than the others, it probably avoids the existing immune response a little more, but it is not more harmful”assures Bruno Lina, director of the CNR and member of the Health Risk Monitoring and Anticipation Committee (Covars).
Backtracking. Dubbed “Wuhan,” the original SARS-CoV-2 virus emerged in China in late 2019 and then spread around the world, constantly mutating. The first variant of the concern, called “Alpha”, appeared at the end of 2020 in the United Kingdom, Beta arrived, soon after, in South Africa, then Gamma, at the beginning of 2021, in South America, and Delta, in India. , in the spring of the same year. “They are all variants of the Wuhan strain, with the same genetic root”need Bruno Lina.
The Omicron variant was first discovered in November 2021 in South Africa. “In addition to the number of Omicron mutations, this new variant has led to a change in the behavior of the virus. We go from a virus that causes lower lung infections to a virus that causes upper respiratory infections (in the ENT area), favoring the transmission of the virus. “continued Bruno Lina. Like its predecessors, this new variant has beneficial changes such as immune escape and therefore increased transmission, the virus easily reinfects people who have already been infected and the immunity power by old viruses.
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