The coronavirus epidemic seems to decrease in France, but the overall balance remains fragile. At the same time as vaccination, the threat from variants could occur an epidemic within the epidemic as it has been with the UK strain, now predominating in France. In the heart of worried, the Indian variant, detected on several occasions in the country.
La PCR dite de criblage détecte la mutation en position E484 il est donc possible que cette augmentation des cas en IdF soit liée au variant indien ou à la présence de cette mutation sur d'autres souches (sur le variant britannique entre autres).
— Rémi Salomon (@RemiSalomon) April 25, 2021
On attend le séquençage. https://t.co/VUqThhtWzg
Tweet reads: “Screening PCR test detects the E484 mutation, it is then possible for the increase in cases in IdF be related to the Indian variant or the presence of this mutation in other strains (the UK strain among others). We’re waiting for sequencing”.
What about Île-de-France? In Late April, on his Twitter account, APHP Medical Commission President Rémi Salomon shared geode data stating there is an increase in the proportion of suspicion of Brazilian and South African variants in the Paris area. In 10 days, their share has doubled up. A relatively weak increase but that is still worrying. And for good reason, according to Salomon, it could be related to the arrival of the Indian variant in France even though – so far – it has not been officially detected. Yet, this Tuesday April 27, 2021, Health Minister Olivier Véran affirms the Indian strain has not been identified in metropolitan France so far.
As of Monday May 3, 2021, still no Indian variant on the horizon. Interviewed by La République de Seine-et-Marne, Île-de-France Regional Health Agency Director Aurélien Rousseau yet says the hunt has started: "There is no case so far, but we have launched a track to curb the spread when cases will be detected". He thinks detecting the Indian variant in the Paris area is only a matter of time: "There are suspicious cases, but of course they are treated. This mutation requires complete sequencing".
