Good Evening Bermuda,
I am pleased to share with you a summary of Bermuda’s current testing of the recent coronavirus variants.
To recap, the last update I delivered in January, I was able to share initial findings from the first batch of viral genome sequencing results conducted by Public Health England (PHE). This included 21 samples from cases between October 27th – November 18th.
Initial analysis of the results showed that 8 different strains were identified, with all being imported from the US, UK and Asia. None of the UK strains were the new UK variant strain that caused the lockdowns in the UK late last year. Both strains identified at that time were both common strains circulating in the UK since March 2020.
Oxford nanopore sequencing will be performed on island once all supplies arrive. In the meantime, we have been able to send 10 samples to CARPHA and will be sending a further batch of 50 samples to PHE next week.
A new rapid variant PCR test has become available that allows for identification of variants within 1 hour, as opposed to a week via sequencing. This test looks for signature mutations that are specific to the variants in circulation right now. Once a variant is identified we will still sequence the sample for confirmation.
The rapid PCR test Bermuda has can detect the following mutations:
a. 69/70 amino deletion, found in the UK variant only
b. E484K mutation, found in the Brazil and South Africa variants,
c. N501Y mutation found in the UK, South Africa and Brazil variants.
d. V1176F mutation specifically found in the Brazil variant.
Our screening assay looks at the deletion, 484 and 501 mutations simultaneously and allows us to tell if samples are the normal strains (ones which are not of concern), or the UK, Brazil or South Africa variant.
As of last Wednesday, MDL commenced rapid PCR variant testing of 365 cases from October 6th – March 1st.
We have identified the UK and South Africa variants in Bermuda, but not the Brazil variant.
The breakdown is as follows:
1. 326 are normal strains, including all linked to the outbreaks Bermuda experienced at the end of last year. We will sequence all of these to determine which normal strains they are.
2. 1 Denmark cluster variant, which is not a variant of concern but does have the similar deletion to the UK strain.
3. 35 are the UK strain. The first UK variants arrived on the December 13th BA flight. Up until January 14th all UK variant cases were imported from the UK via BA flights. From January 17th until February 20th UK variant was also imported from the US, via Miami and NYC. There was no evidence of UK variant in any local transmission cases until the month of February.
4. 1 South Africa variant imported on January 13th via the Miami.
5. 2 are inconclusive and will be determine via viral genome sequencing.
From all this new emerging data, one thing we can say that we have successfully managed the UK strain for the last 2.5 months and should all be proud that when we follow our public health guidance from the Ministry of Health, it is effective.
I am also immensely proud of all the young Bermudians working at MDL who have learned this new skill in record time and have made this data available in under 1 week. I also want to highlight upcoming biomedical scientist Keizhari Knight who managed this project extremely well.
Moving forward, MDL will routinely check new cases via rapid variant PCR testing and confirm through sequencing to understand how if any further mutations have occurred on island, and aide epidemiological investigations.
As we soldier on with this fight against COVID-19, let us continue to all do our part by following the guidelines that have gotten us all this far.
Thank you.