A new Brazilian strain of COVID-19 has emerged

Already, nine municipalities in the state of São Paulo have detected a coronavirus variant of unknown origin.

Researchers said there was a threat of its rapid spread in Brazil.

This modification of SARS-CoV-2 was first detected in February in the city of Mococa and has now spread widely in the city of Porto Ferreira.

However, João Pessoa Araujo Junior, vice-president of the Brazilian Virology Society, said that it is not yet known whether this species is more contagious or dangerous than the regular virus.

Variant P4 has an unknown origin.It was first detected in a sample from Mococa, a municipality in São Paulo, after which it was widely distributed in Porto Ferreira.It is not yet possible to determine whether it is more contagious or dangerous than the regular virus. 

Sao Paulo University Statement

The new variant is also reported to have a common origin with Brazilian and Filipino strains.

Brazil ranks third in the world in terms of the number of people infected with coronavirus (16.1 million people), ahead of the United States (33.1 million) and India (27.1 million).

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