English variant Covid still dominant in Italy, but slightly down

In Italy, the English variant of the coronavirus is still dominant, at 88.1%, according to data updated to May 18, but down from 91.6% of last April 15, and with values ​​fluctuating between the individual regions between 40% and 100%. For the ‘Brazilian’ one, the prevalence was 7.3% (0% -60%, while it was 4.5% in the last survey), while the others monitored are below 1%, except for the so-called ‘Indian variant’. which is 1%. The estimate comes from the new ‘rapid survey’ conducted by the Higher Institute of Health (Iss) and the Ministry of Health together with the regional laboratories and the Bruno Kessler Foundation. The survey integrates routine monitoring activities, and therefore does not contain all the cases of variants detected – specifies the ISS – but only those relating to the day taken into consideration. In total, the 21 Regions / Autonomous Provinces and a total of 116 laboratories participated in the survey. The survey shows that “in the Italian context, in which the vaccination campaign is accelerating even if it has not yet reached sufficient coverage, the spread of variants with greater transmissibility can have a significant impact. While the ‘English’ variant is still predominant, particularly attention should be paid to the variant P.1 “, the so-called Brazilian,” whose prevalence is slightly increasing compared to the previous survey. The variant B.1.167.2 (the so-called ‘Indian’) has been identified in 16 total cases of which different natives “, reads the flash survey. And again, the ISS recommends: “in the current European and national scenario, characterized by the circulation of various variants, it is necessary to continue to monitor with great attention, in line with national and international recommendations and with ministerial indications, the dissemination of variants of SarS-CoV-2. In order to contain and mitigate their impact – concludes the ISS – it is important to keep the incidence at values ​​that allow the systematic tracking of most cases “.