The new more infectious mutation of the coronavirus from the UK has not been detected in Lithuania yet, researchers said after a Vilnius hospital chief suggested that several patients might have it.
Scientists at the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (LSMU) said on Monday afternoon that the dominant strain of the virus in the country is one that had been first identified in Spain in early summer. Meanwhile the British mutation, which is said to be 70 percent more infectious, has not been detected in Lithuania yet, according to the LSMU's press release
“The British coronavirus strain has not yet spread in our country and does not significantly affect the course of Covid-19, the rate of infections or the effectiveness of the vaccine,” it said.
According LSMU Vice-rector for Research Vaiva Lesauskaitė, over 200 coronavirus genomes have been sequenced in Lithuania to date.
New strain suspected at Vilnius hospital
Earlier on Monday, Feliksas Jankevičius, the head of Santara Clinics in Vilnius, said that seven patients were “suspected” to have the mutated virus, but more tests needed to be performed.
“We are sequencing the genome. I haven't got the final results yet whether it's the new mutation. If it is – and we will know today or tomorrow – we will trace the contacts [of the ptients] and try to prevent the mutation from spreading,” Jankevičius said during a discussion with the parliamentary Committee on National Security and Defence.
The new strain of the coronavirus, believed to be 70 percent more infectious, was first identified in the UK. On December 21, Lithuania temporarily suspended passenger flights from the country in order to prevent the mutation from spreading. The ban is in effect until December 31.
Read more: Lithuania bans flights from UK over coronavirus mutation
According to Jankevičius, there are no data that the new strain could be immune to developed vaccines or significantly change the course of the disease. However, as it is more infectious, it could increase the number of hospitalisations.
“It would be a huge burden, even bigger than it is at the moment,” he said.
Lithuania is currently not sequencing the genome of the virus and therefore cannot trace its mutations. Professor Edita Sužiedėlienė of Vilnius University said last week that the country had the necessary equipment, but needed funding in order to “begin systematic analysis of the genomes of the virus circulating in Lithuania”.
Lithuanian medics are paying particular attention to isolate coronavirus infections among long-haul drivers and travellers, Jankevičius said.
Read more: Lithuania must ‘immediately’ start analysing coronavirus mutations – health experts
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