Mayabeque, Cuba: Two new genetic variants of SARS-CoV-2, those initially identified in South Africa and California, circulate in the Cuban province of Matanzas.
The new strains of the virus causing the disease known as COVID-19 were registered in the municipalities of Jagüey Grande, Jovellanos and Colón (South African variant), as well as in Cárdenas (Californian variant).
The presence of the latter causes, among other particularities, higher levels of contagion, lethality and spread of the virus, in addition to an increase in aggressiveness to the body.
Dr. María Guadalupe Guzmán, Director of Research, Diagnosis and Reference of the Pedro Kourí Institute of Tropical Medicine appeared today at the Round Table to assess the presence of new virus strains and mutational variants in the country.
The province will continue studies to detect other possible genetic variants through the analysis of samples belonging to patients in serious or critical condition, regardless of the result obtained in the PCR test (polymerase chain reaction) in real time.
