A MYSTERY Brit who had the Brazil variant of Covid has now been found, it was reported this afternoon.
Public Health England started a frantic search for someone who had come into the UK with the mutation in February – but didn’t fill in the contact details on their form and couldn’t be properly traced.
A nationwide search was underway for the mystery person infected after six cases were confirmed last weekend.
They didn’t put down the right information on their forms after flying into the UK, sparking a frantic search for them.
Earlier this week Matt Hancock said the search had been narrowed down to just over 300 households in the Gloucestershire area – and they were going door to door to find them.
Two officials confirmed to the Financial Times today that the person has now been located.
PHE and the Department for Health have been contacted for comment.
Mr Hancock is due to give a press conference tonight.
The news came as it was reported that the Oxford’s Covid vaccine DOES work against mutant Brazil variant.
Preliminary data from a University of Oxford study reportedly shows that the jab doesn’t need to be modified to protect against the strain – in a huge sigh of relief for Britain’s health teams.
A source told Reuters today that the findings show the vaccine is effective against the P1 variant, which originated in the Brazilian city of Manaus.
The source, who requested anonymity as the results have not yet been made public, did not provide the exact efficacy of the vaccine against the variant.
They said the full results of the study are expected to be released soon – possibly later this month.
Early results indicated the AstraZeneca vaccine was less effective against the South African variant, which is similar to P1.
Representatives for AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Brazil is currently confronting a brutal and long-lasting second wave of the coronavirus, hitting a daily record of 1,910 deaths on Wednesday.
Earlier this week he made a desperate plea for the mystery traveller who was infected with the Brazilian strain to come forward.
Mr Hancock and Susan Hopkins from PHE joined forces to ask anyone who had a test on February 12 or 13 to come forward to check if they were affected.
He said: “We’re therefore asking anyone who took a test on the 12th, or 13th of February, but hasn’t received the result back to please get in touch by calling 119 in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland, or in Scotland, 0300 303 2713.
“We are doing additional search testing in parts of South Gloucestershire as a highly precautionary measure, and we urge people in that country to come forward for testing.”
