Lithuania records unknown coronavirus mutation

Thirty-five cases of an unidentified coronavirus strain have been found in the northeastern Lithuanian district of Anyksciai, a regional public health official said, Report informs referring to Lithuanian Radio and Television (LRT).

"Our department received information that coronavirus cases with the E484 mutation have been detected in Anyksciai District," Birute Sapkauskiene, director of the Utena department of the National Public Health Centre (NVSC), told BNS.

"We have no information yet as to what strain of the virus it is. As far as we know, this strain doesn't have a name yet; [the strain] is unusual in Lithuania," she said.

At present, there is no indication that people infected with the strain develop more severe symptoms. About a third of those infected in Anyksciai have already recovered, according to the director.

Variants carrying the E484 mutation may have greater resistance to vaccines.