In Virus News Today

The first question is, is a virus capable of spreading? and this one is spreading rapidly in many areas. so, for example, in the gauteng area of south africa up to 90% of the cases that have been reported are of this new variant, so spread is clear and it is spreading around the world, so it has achieved the first thing, it definitely can spread. the second question is, to what extent is that because it is able to escape immunity from prior infection or from vaccination? we do not at this stage ...

It diverges _ very extensive mutation which means it diverges quite significantly from previous— it diverges quite significantly from previous configurations of the virus: _ previous configurations of the virus. and _ previous configurations of the virus, and as a result it might at least, _ virus, and as a result it might at least, in — virus, and as a result it might at least, in part, reduce the protection of our vaccines over time — protection of our vaccines over time so— protection...

Vaccihes— information on the ability of this vaccines to protect against the virus. — vaccines to protect against the virus. but _ vaccines to protect against the virus, but that is going to take a little _ virus, but that is going to take a little bit — virus, but that is going to take a little bit of— virus, but that is going to take a little bit of time, so at the moment the models — little bit of time, so at the moment the models are more sort of if it spreads— the models are mor...

A primary course because the stronger the immune system response the more it is able to deal with a relative disadvantage due to the genetic make—up of this virus. im going to pass over to sir patrick vallance who will add to those points. vallance who will add to those oints. , , . ., ., points. viruses will continue to chan . e points. viruses will continue to change and _ points. viruses will continue to change and they _ points. viruses will continue to change and they will— points. viru...

Think i would just repeat what i said at the beginning, that i think the uk continues to be in a much, much stronger position. we continue to be in a strong position largely thanks to the speed of the vaccine roll—out and now the booster roll—out, and as for your question about christmas, i think im going to stick with the formula ive used before, which is that im pretty confident or absolutely confident this christmas will be considerably better than last christmas, if that will do for the ...

On that— precautionary measures at this point on that basis? — precautionary measures at this point on that basis? regarding _ precautionary measures at this point on that basis? regarding the - precautionary measures at this point on that basis? regarding the jcvi, . on that basis? regarding the jcvi, the review— on that basis? regarding the jcvi, the review of— on that basis? regarding the jcvi, the review of vaccines, _ on that basis? regarding the jcvi, the review of vaccines, can - ...

Science in front of them. but to go back to this point about where we are more concerned or less concerned, the point we have at the moment is there is a lot of uncertainty about the new omicron variant, and because of that uncertainty, it is sensible to take a precautionary approach until we know which way things are going, and to do that rather than look back and wish we had done so before. just to add to that, i think the one thing _ just to add to that, i think the one thing that— just to ...

This variant. now, an important thing which we have said previously with other bits of immunity with viruses is that it is easier for the viruses is that it is easier for the virus to achieve ability to escape for infection than it is to achieve escape for severe disease and then on to mortality. so there is a reasonable chance, but i want to be clear, we need to wait until we have data before we can say this with any certainty, that even if there is some, ora certainty, that even if there is so...

Suggesting germany and now in the uk. we expect the numbers to continue to rise around the world over the next few days. that is our very strong expectation, and the numbers of countries that will be reporting this will continue to rise. that is, i think a virtually inevitable. here in the uk, as the prime minister says, there are two cases that have been formally reported. the first in essex and the second in nottingham. both of those are linked together, so they are part of the same cluster, t...