News2021.04.20 17:21

Unidentified coronavirus strain found in eastern Lithuania

BNS 2021.04.20 17:21

Thirty-five cases of an unidentified coronavirus strain have been found in the northeastern Lithuanian district of Anykščiai, a regional public health official said on Tuesday.  

"On April 9, our department received information that coronavirus cases with the E484 mutation have been detected in Anykščiai District," Birutė Sapkauskienė, director of the Utena department of the National Public Health Centre (NVSC), told BNS.

"We have no information yet as to what strain of the virus it is. As far as we know, this strain doesn't have a name yet; [the strain] is unusual in Lithuania," she said.

At present, there is no indication that people infected with the strain develop more severe symptoms. About a third of those infected in Anykščiai have already recovered, according to the director.

Variants carrying the E484 mutation may have greater resistance to vaccines.

LRT has been certified according to the Journalism Trust Initiative Programme