Its official name is Voc 202012/01, but some call it variant, mutant or even clone.
Appeared in mid-September in Kent, in the south-east of England, this cocktail of mutations in the protein that helps the Covid-19 virus to penetrate our cells, is now sowing trouble throughout Europe, France included.
And for good reason, probably more contagious, this British variant is more fearful of a third wave, or even an "epidemic within the epidemic", in the words of the epidemiologist of the Institut Pasteur Arnaud Fontanet.
If it is impossible to blame it today for the increase in the number of new cases of Covid confirmed in the territory (+ 17% in one week), everyone wants to avoid an English fate, with a virus that would get out of control, and would require a new turn of the sanitary screw.
“Increased transmission leads to a higher total number of cases.
Mathematically, we could therefore have more serious forms, hospitalizations and deaths, ”decrypts Bruno Coignard, director of infectious diseases at Public Health France (SPF).
"To delay the diffusion of these variants as much as possible"
However, from day to day, it is not known how many people in the territory are (or have been) reached by the British clone.
The next data update by SPF will only take place this Thursday, January 14.
The last one, a week earlier, reported 19 cases, in seven regions, including Ile-de-France, Center-Val-de-Loire, Nouvelle-Aquitaine or even Provence-Alpes-Côte d ' Azure.
But this Monday, just in the reference center for respiratory viruses in Lyon (Rhône), 23 new infections were flushed out, mainly from the South.
Around Cholet (Maine-et-Loire), residents from across the Channel spent the holidays with their families.
And Tuesday, the Regional Health Agency reported three positive cases for the variant including a grandparent who had to be hospitalized.
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Covid-19: at the heart of the Lyon laboratory which tracks the British variant
So, the hunt is now organized.
"The objective is to delay as much as possible the diffusion of these variants", according to Bruno Coignard, who also points out the South African mutation, of which at least three cases have been identified.
In Lyon, the national reference center for respiratory infection viruses, which has exceptionally opened its laboratories to us, was tasked with carrying out a “flash” study to estimate the level of circulation of the English clone.
“In less than a week, we will have robust and unique data in Europe,” enthuses its director, Professor Bruno Lina.
A real logistical challenge
Across the country, a strengthening of sequencing - the only technique that can confirm the identity of the virus - has started.
A real logistical challenge, because the French capacities in this area are insufficient, far below, in particular, those of the British.
To get back on the water, it will be necessary to invest, massively.
Study of wastewater, sequencing ... In Marseille (Bouches-du-Rhône), where a cluster linked to the English mutation has been detected, the city is on the alert to counter the variant.
However, "the cluster is controlled and will be closed when all the people have tested negative", specifies the regional health agency.
The IHU Méditerranée Infection, in charge of sequencing, has set itself the objective of being able to identify by the end of the week all the cases of the English variant among the positive PCR tests for Covid-19 detected on square.
There were 230 on Monday.
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In Ile-de-France, the race against time is accelerating: six cases of variants have been confirmed to date.
There are also 52 cases for which confirmations are awaited, concerning people tested positive who had direct contact with Great Britain.
"The possible or probable cases are now immediately considered as confirmed cases until the removal of doubt by the sequencing," said the Regional Health Agency this Tuesday evening, while surveillance in airports was reinforced, at the descent of planes.
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Vaccination: "We are engaged in a speed race against the variants"
In Roubaix (North), the major test campaign planned to take stock after the holidays has changed target.
“The variant has become one of the challenges of this screening campaign,” explained Benoît Vallet, director general of the Hauts-de-France regional health agency.
Uncertainties and fears which, doctors assure, only confirm the need to amplify the vaccination campaign.