The variants: Does the Indian “double mutant” really exist in Europe?

After the strain that emerged in South Africa and the strain that emerged in South Africa, it is the “Indian variant” that worries scientists today. If local authorities deny any link between its emergence and the outbreak of the pandemic that has significantly reshaped New Delhi’s 20 million residents for a week, some countries have already banned access to travelers from India.

This is particularly the case in the United Kingdom, which allows access to its territory only for British residents, provided that they observe quarantine in the hotel at their expense. So, should we fear that this so-called “dual mutant” strain could sweep across Europe? Is she really there?

If no case of this “Indian variant” has yet been discovered in France, then this is not the case on a continent scale where pollution has already been reported, specifically in the United Kingdom, but also in Ireland, Germany, Italy, Spain and Belgium. However, there would be no cause for concern, as statistics on this strain registered in these different countries currently account for less than 1% of cases.

However, the evolution of the number of cases in the United Kingdom where it practices a massive and open chain of custody policy could be a source of information. Or even a prediction of what could happen in Europe, as happened a few months ago with regard to the “English alternative”? According to the progress curves of the variables recorded in the United Kingdom, compared to the “South African breed” and the “Brazilian ancestry”, the “Indian variant” is the one that is currently increasing exponentially.

As a benchmark, in the past seven days India recorded more than 1.4 million new cases of coronavirus, an increase of 64% over the previous week, according to data compiled by Agence France-Presse. For some observers, the explanation can be found in the circulation of this new domestic alternative.