New Delta Variant Mutation Discovered in Japan

A Total of 8 Cases Discovered Worldwide
First Case Confirmed in Japan

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] A new mutation of the India-originated Delta variant, which has emerged as the new mainstream of the COVID-19 pandemic, was first confirmed in Japan.

According to NHK on the 31st, a research team at Tokyo Medical and Dental University discovered a new mutation called 'N501S' through genetic analysis of the Delta variant collected from a patient treated at the university's affiliated hospital in mid-August.

This mutation, which has been reported only eight times worldwide so far, was confirmed in Japan for the first time.

The research team believes that the new mutation originated domestically in Japan, considering the genetic characteristics.

This mutation has a structure similar to the 'N501Y' mutation related to the Alpha variant first discovered in the UK, but its impact on infectivity and other factors is not yet known.

Associate Professor Takeuchi Hiroaki of the research team said, "As infections spread, there is a possibility that new mutations will continue to emerge domestically in Japan, so it is essential to suppress the spread of infection by any means."

He also added that the virus surveillance system for genetic analysis needs to be further expanded.

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