The Gambia has registered two cases of a more infectious British-identified coronavirus variant.

Gambian Health Minister Ahmadou Samateh says the UK strain was detected in two people entering the country. Both individuals were asymptomatic but the government did not give further details.

“People coming from 20 hot-spot countries, like the UK, Spain, France and Sweden must face another test because we have detected the new variant,” he said. “This one transmits faster”.

Coronavirus variant B117 likely emerged in southeastern England in September, according to Imperial College London. The World Health Organization says it has already spread to 50 countries worldwide.

This strain is believed to be more easily transmissible because of a mutation of the spike protein, the part of the virus which latches on to human cells.

The new cases could hamper the small West African nation’s efforts to contain a surge in COVID-19 infection rates.

The Gambia has recorded close to 4000 coronavirus infections since detecting its first case back in 2020.

So far 126 people have died.

 

Story compiled with assistance from wire reports