              
             English Version
            
                    search
                    close

Peru: Brazilian COVID-19 variant detected in Eastern Lima

Photo: ANDINA/Ministry of Health of Peru

10:34 | Lima, Mar. 5.

Peruvian National Health Institute (INS) Director Cesar Cabezas on Thursday night confirmed that the P1 coronavirus variant —also known as the Brazilian one— is already in Metropolitan Lima, namely in the eastern zone.

The case was detected in Ate District, after having analyzed samples in Iquitos and Huanuco, where the first cases had been reported, he said in remarks to RPP radio and TV station.

The expert pointed out that this Brazilian variant is characterized by high transmissibility, and that 951 sample sequencings have been carried out so far —67% of those in Lima and 32% in the regions.

Cabezas recalled that when the P1 variant began to prevail in the Brazilian town of Manaus, the INS sent a commission of specialists to sequence the samples from the border area.

"The task is to focalize; we knew that it would enter through a border area; the P1 variant went to Caballococha and it was found there. When a phenomenon is highly prevalent, many samples are not necessary to determine that it is already in some areas," he indicated.

Thus, the physician requested the population to wear well-fitted masks that prevent the entry of the virus.

"Wearing surgical mask under the cloth mask is a good alternative," he stressed.

On March 3, a study in England revealed that this P1 variant is 2.1% more contagious than the original one, which had appeared in Wuhan, and that it could reinfect 61% of patients who had already been infected with COVID-19.

(END) SMS/MVB

Publicado: 5/3/2021