Kosovo confirmed the first 3 cases of infections with the coronavirus variant of the United Kingdom, North Macedonia as well, while Greece has confirmed the presence of the South African variant . Given the epidemiological situation in neighboring countries, questions are raised whether in Albania have been confirmed cases of new variants, generally more transmitted to the population.
In an interview for "Wake up", the General Director of the National Medical Emergency Center, Dr. Skënder Brataj, said:
"None of the Balkan countries has the opportunity to distinguish the type of strain, or the virus, or these new variants that have emerged. Fortunately, as new strains emerge, they show an increase in infections, but there is no change in sequelae. There is no difference even for vaccination, because the vaccine gives the same effect. In terms of identification, Albania, like any Balkan country, has an agreement with England to identify the type of virus. We as doctors do not cost anything in terms of clinic, treatment or final results for patients infected with this type of virus. "Understandably, every country is afraid because increasing the spread of the infection in a bigger way than before is a concern."
However he did not rule out the lack of new variants:
"Obviously, a virus changes and circulates and no matter what measures you take, it limits it, but if it has come to other Balkan countries, it is normal that it can come to Albania as well."
Britain was one of the first countries to identify a variant of Covid that is transmitted faster. One of the changes that made this variant stand out was a mutation known as N501Y, which affects the "spike" protein receptor binding domain (RBD) - the point where the virus binds to a cell. "This mutation, at least in a laboratory setting, allows the protein to bind more strongly to proteins on the cell surfaces that are targeted," said Dr. Eleanor Gaunt from the University of Edinburgh.
Health authorities in South Africa said on December 18 that a variant of the coronavirus was spreading rapidly in three provinces and was causing concern. They called it 501Y.V2 and found that it was contributing to the growth of infections.
Viruses are more likely to be transmitted as they infect more people, but experts have said that SARS-CoV-2 has been slower to change. So far, 4 variants have been discovered by experts.
Vaccine manufacturers are already working on adapting vaccines to mutations as well.
