A report prepared by IHCM director Prof David Perera (pic) indicated that the P3 variant was detected in eight out of 484 samples analysed in its genomic surveillance study. "This P3 variant is characterised by two key mutations, the E484K mutation shared with the B.1.351 variant (South African variant) and the N501Y mutation shared with the B.1.1.7 variant (UK variant). "These mutations have been associated with immune escape from both vaccine-induced and natural infection protection, and greater transmissibility," Prof Perera said in a statement on Friday (April 30). Designated a variant of interest, the P3 variant was first reported in the Philippines in March and was recently identified in imported cases in Britain.