Coronavirus mutates much more regularly in Brazil

As vaccination rates progress in Brazil and many countries around the world, the major pandemic concern remains the potential rise of new variants, which could circumvent the protections currently provided by available immunizers. With this in mind, a group of Brazilian researchers sought to analyze the existence of SARS-CoV-2 variants in the country, identifying a total of 61 different mutations circulating in Brazil. The result, according to the researchers, demonstrates that Brazil is one of the world’s biggest hubs for coronavirus mutations, along with South Africa.

The study spanned from March 2020 — when the first coronavirus cases appeared in Brazil — to June of this year, with specific analyses for the country’s five macroregions. The results and methodology used were published in scientific journal Viruses.

To give an idea of the profligacy of coronavirus mutations in Brazil, a similar study in Europe would require sequencing over 1,000 samples before identifying a mutated virus or different variant. One alteration was found in every 278 Brazilian samples.

The researchers blame this widespread mutation trend on the lack of adequate restrictive measures throughout the pandemic, as well as the delays in kicking off mass vaccination.

“If you have few infected people, such as when the virus hits a widely vaccinated...