A man who traveled from Brazil to Frankfurt presented the first case of infection with the variant that has been called “Brazilian” – a version of Sars-Cov-2 with mutations that make it more contagious, identified in Manaus. The announcement was made on Friday (22) by the state government of Hesse.
According to the state’s Department of Social Affairs, the traveler did not have any symptoms of Covid-19 and the variant was identified after testing positive for the coronavirus. The sequencing is currently being submitted for confirmation, according to the government.
This variant identified in Brazil, also known as B.1.1.28.1 or P1, has the same mutations found in the version that was reported by South Africa. One of these is also the concerning mutation in the variant found in the UK. In all three cases, there are changes in the protein known as Skipe, which makes it easier for the coronavirus to enter human cells.
Mutations in these three variants make them more contagious, scientists say, but there is no evidence that they cause more severe cases of Covid-19 or are more fatal.
The announcement was made on the day the number of coronavirus deaths in the country since the start of the pandemic has exceeded 50,000 (the country also has unconfirmed cases, which have strong evidence of a relationship with Covid- 19). The country ranks 11th in total number of deaths, but it is 45th in rate proportional to population, with 61/100 thousand (in Brazil, for comparison, there are 100/100 thousand)
Despite the milestone in the total number of deaths, described as “incomprehensible” by the German government, the Robert Koch Institute (which controls infectious diseases) recorded a drop in the weekly average of new cases, to 119/100 thousand inhabitants . Germany has extended its confinement until February 14.