European Researchers Identify Three Variants of the COVID-19 Virus

Type A in China and the US, Type B in China and East Asia, Type C in Europe
Concerns Over Long-Term Coexistence of COVID-19 with Humans

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Young-shin] British and German geneticists have identified three mutated strains of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) through genomic analysis.

The Hong Kong South China Morning Post reported on the 12th (local time) that British and German researchers conducted viral genome analyses of patients infected with COVID-19 between December 24 last year and March 4, leading to these findings.

The researchers classified the three mutations as types A, B, and C. Type A was found to be most similar to the coronavirus discovered in bats. Type A was detected not only in Wuhan, China, but also in the United States and Australia. Type B is the most common strain of the coronavirus and was found throughout East Asia, including Wuhan.

Type C was most frequently found in Europe. The researchers estimated that the virus mutated from type A to type B, and then from type B to type C. Type C was not found in China. Considering that type A is most similar to the virus found in bats, the researchers believe it to be the origin of the outbreak. They explained, "This study indicates that the COVID-19 virus is mutating in various regions," and added, "Human movement has accelerated the spread of the virus, and mutations occurred during transmission."

The researchers also advised, "This virus can coexist with humans for a long time," and emphasized, "More attention must be paid to prevention and control."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.