#15,744
Although the numbers have been rising rapidly, a week ago Denmark's last report indicated they had confirmed only 283 cases of the UK variant (B1.1.7) in their country. Today's update from the Staten Serums Institut (SSI) shows that number has doubled (n=561).
Additionally, Denmark reports two more South African variant detections, bringing their total to 3.
As of January 24th, cov-lineages.org lists 26 countries reporting the South African (B1.351) variant, and 62 countries reporting the UK (B1.1.7) variant. Brazil's P.1 lineage lags behind with just 7 countries.
Testing and surveillance is quite limited, even in technologically advanced nations, and so these numbers should be taken with a very large grain of salt.
Two more Danes infected with variant B.1.351, which was first detected in South Africa
The Statens Serum Institut today publishes an updated report on the prevalence of more infectious SARS-CoV-2 variants in DenmarkLast edited January 24, 2021
About B.1.351 first found in South Africa
On Saturday, January 22, the particularly contagious variant, B.1.351, was detected in two people with Covid-19. Both the infected Danes had been in East Africa and were tested positive for Covid-19 when they returned to Denmark. For all detected cases, the Danish Agency for Patient Safety has started intensified infection detection immediately and they have both been in isolation since they were tested positive on Tuesday 15 January.
A single case of B.1.351 has previously been found in a Dane who was related to a traveler from Dubai.
“We must avoid these new and more contagious virus variants gaining a foothold in Denmark. Therefore, it is absolutely crucial that travelers are tested and go into isolation after entry, ”says Tyra Grove Krause, Acting Director of the Statens Serum Institut. “Right now, it is incredibly difficult to get an overview of in which countries these variants are in circulation. Therefore, travelers from all countries should be tested on entry, ”says Tyra Grove Krause.
About B.1.1.7 first found in England
561 people with this variant have now been detected in Denmark. A total of 7.4% of all sequenced samples in week 2 were found positive for B.1.1.7 compared to 4% of all positive samples in week 1. The proportion of B.1.1.7 cases among sequenced samples varies from approx. 2-10% in different regions highest in Region Zealand and Southern Denmark, lowest in Region North Jutland.
“As expected, we still see a marked increase in both the number of proven B.1.1.7, but also in the proportion that B.1.1.7 constitutes among the samples where we make detailed variant analyzes. We regularly share our data with the Danish Agency for Patient Safety with a view to intensified infection detection, ”adds Tyra Grove Krause.
Although the UK variant only makes up about 7% of Denmark's cases in week 2 of 2021, it is increasing at such a rate that models suggest it will become their dominant strain in a matter of weeks (see SSI Forecasts For Infection Rates With COVID Variant B.1.1.7).
Figure 1. Proportion of sequenced samples with B.1.1.7 with
95% confidence intervals, week 46 2020 to week 2 2021
