Korea is lagging far behind in whole-genome sequencing than the United Kingdom, which recently found a variant Covid-19 strain with much more genomic surveillance, infectious disease experts said.
The U.K. has been closely monitoring mutant coronavirus by increasing the number of genome-wide sequencing.
According to the Covid-19 virus analysis results presented by the Global Initiative for Sharing All Influenza Data, the U.K. placed the top with 132,330 genome testing. Other countries have conducted less than half of the U.K.’s tests, including the United States with 51,212 sequencings.
Korea carried out only 846 cases, fewer than the 2,730 tests performed by the Republic of South Africa.
Healthcare experts have claimed that a new strain of coronavirus can emerge at any time regardless of place.
The mutation occurs due to the characteristic of ribonucleic acid (RNA) viruses. Most RNA viruses mutate as they cannot correct the errors made in copying genetic information. An average of one RNA virus mutation occurs every month.
The variant Covid-19 virus found in the U.K. is 70 percent more contagious than the existing strain. Besides Korea, many other countries, including the U.S., Canada, the Middle East, and Japan, confirmed the variant virus in their nations.
Health officials here detected three patients infected by the mutant Covid-19 virus while performing genomic sequencing of all arrivals from the U.K. during airport screening.
“The patients infected by the mutant virus entered Korea on Dec. 22, and we have confirmed the variant strain from them through genome sequencing,” said an official at the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. “We have confirmed the three patients at the airport, and they have not contacted others.”
The Central Disease Control Headquarters reported that it had conducted 1,631 genome sequencing as of Dec. 17 and presented half of the results, planning to disclose the rest soon.
“Korea has a relatively smaller number of confirmed patients, so the ratio of analysis to the cumulative caseload should be used in comparison with other countries.”
Despite the finding, experts pointed out that the nation is far behind in whole-genome sequencing.
“Virus continues mutations and makes new strains for survival just as humans vaccines to prevent infection,” said Professor Lee Keun-hwa at Hanyang University College of Medicine. “We need to strengthen monitoring the new variant.”
As the variant Covid-19 is spreading throughout the world, several countries, including the U.S. and Japan, have stepped up and taken measures to prevent infections from U.K arrivals.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention decided to request results showing a negative response to a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or antigen test taken within 72 hours of departure from the U.K.
Japan also decided to ban all foreigners from entering the country until the end of January. It confirmed the variant Covid-19 strain for the first time among passengers and their families arriving from the U.K.