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Boris Johnson: "Indications that the variant is more deadly than the previously prevalent"
Photo: DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS / AFP
Boris Johnson drew criticism in one sentence about a new virus variant.
The British Prime Minister said on Friday that there was "some evidence that the variant is more deadly than the one that has prevailed so far."
The mutation B.1.1.7 appeared in the southeastern county of Kent at the end of last year and has since spread rapidly in London and parts of the country.
It is considered to be significantly more contagious than other virus variants.
British experts were now puzzled by Johnson's statements that they could possibly also result in a significantly higher mortality rate.
It was "not completely clear" that the mutant was more deadly, said the medical director of the Public Health England, Yvonne Doyle, on Saturday the broadcaster BBC Radio 4. "It is too early to say that." There are indications .
But: "These are only a small number of cases, and it is far too early to say what will actually come out," said Doyle.
Several investigations were ongoing.
Scientist Mike Tildesley, a member of the Sage expert panel, also told the BBC that it was too early to be clear.
"I'd like to wait a week or two and do some analysis before we come to any really strong conclusions."
The number of deaths has increased slightly, from 10 to 13 per 1000 patients.
"But that's based on a pretty small amount of data," Tildesley said.
He was very surprised that Johnson announced the information at a press conference.
"I'm worried we might be rushing to report things when the data isn't very meaningful," Tildesley said.
Great Britain is one of the countries in the world hardest hit by the corona pandemic.
More than 96,000 infected people have already died there.
With viruses, random changes in the genetic material, called mutations, occur constantly.
Some give the pathogen advantages - for example by making it easier to transmit.
According to the World Health Organization, B.1.1.7 has now been detected in around 60 countries, including Germany.
The spread of the mutant is one reason that the corona restrictions have recently been tightened again in Germany and other countries.
In addition, a significantly more contagious coronavirus mutant has appeared in South Africa, which has now been detected in more than 20 countries.
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kha / dpa