Forex Trading For Beginners 2021: Covid-19: Brazil 'variant of concern' detected in UK

A coronavirus "variant of concern" that was first detected in Brazil has been found in the UK.

Three cases have been detected in England and three in Scotland, health authorities have said.

Experts believe the variant, first detected in Manaus in northern Brazil, could be more contagious.

The three Scottish residents had returned to Scotland from Brazil via Paris and London, the Scottish government said.

Other passengers who were on the same flight from London to Aberdeen are being contacted.

The three cases are not connected to the three in England, the Scottish government said.

In England, the first two cases were from a household in south Gloucestershire with a history of travel to Brazil, but the third is not linked, Public Health England said.

The whereabouts of that individual is unknown, as PHE says the person did not complete their test registration card so follow-up details are unavailable.

Officials are asking anyone who took a test on 12 or 13 February and who has not received a result or has an uncompleted test registration card to come forward immediately.

"The identification of this new variant is a concern but we are taking every possible precaution," said Scottish Health Secretary Jeane Freeman.

"We have identified these cases thanks to our use of advanced sequencing capabilities which means we are finding more variants and mutations than many other countries and are therefore able to take action quickly."

The Scottish government said this variant has been been designated "of concern" as it shares some important mutations with the variant first identified in South Africa. Research suggests some vaccines may be less effective against the South Africa variant.

In January, a coronavirus variant from Brazil was found in the UK - but it was not the "variant of concern".