New French strains of COVID-19 ‘less dangerous’

France is seeing several new mutant strains of COVID-19 that appear more contagious but less dangerous than the original strain.

Coronavirus strains, identified by experts at IHU Mediterranee Infection in Marseilles, could help explain why a recent surge in reported cases in France, as well as elsewhere in Europe, has not so far not led to an equally sharp rise in admissions to hospital.

France is seeing several new mutant strains of COVID-19 that appear more contagious but less dangerous than the original strain, according to one of the country’s leading research hospitals into infectious diseases.

The strains, identified by experts at IHU Mediterranee Infection in Marseilles, could help explain why a recent surge in reported cases in France, as well as elsewhere in Europe, has not so far not led to an equally sharp rise in admissions to hospital.

In testimony last week to the French senate, Didier Raoult, the hospital’s head, said analysis of COVID-19 tests in the summer had revealed seven mutations of the virus. One appeared to have been brought to the city by people crossing from North Africa after ferry links were restored in late June after lockdown ended, he said. It disappeared again last month, to be replaced by other mutations.

“We compared 100 cases from July with 100 before … They are less severe, so something is happening with this virus, which makes it different,” Raoult, 68, told senators. “The mutations we have are a rather degraded version of the initial form. At least that is our impression.”

Raoult, a professor of microbiology, has long been a controversial figure in French medicine, most recently for championing the treatment of COVID-19 with hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malaria drug touted by Donald Trump as a cure. A small trial by Raoult in March, which he claimed showed its efficacy, was widely criticised.

His assertion that the virus is mutating has also been disputed by several scientists, including Professor Jean-Francois Delfraissy, president of the scientific council set up in March to advise the French government on the virus.

Yet Raoult’s researchers are able to draw on massive amounts of data. After the first cases of the virus were reported in February, the hospital quickly pioneered mass testing for anyone who wanted it. This was said to have helped Marseilles escape almost unscathed the first wave of the virus, which struck hardest in the regions around Paris and Strasbourg, in the northeast.

As the number of cases has risen across France in recent weeks, Marseilles has found itself cast as a coronavirus hotspot.

French official figures showed 222.3 cases per 100,000 – compared with a national average of 88.6. Among the city’s 20-40-year-olds it has been as high as 360 per 100,000.

Last week, Marseilles and Bordeaux – which was also largely spared the first wave – were subjected to extra restrictions, including the closure of bars and restaurants at 12.30am and limits on public gatherings to 10 people or fewer.

The apparent surge has been blamed by some on France’s staycation boom, which meant more people headed south.

The Sunday Times