Variantes do vírus SARS-COV-2 causadoras da COVID-19 no Brasil

Objective: To analyze the variants of the SARS-COV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 in Brazil, identified until february 2021. Method: Exploratory, descriptive, comparative and quantitative study. The data were acquired at the Ministry of Health (MS). Results: The variants "VOC B.1.1.7, VOC202012/01 or 201/501Y.V1" from the United Kingdom, "VOC B.1.351 or VOC202012/02 or 20H/501Y.V2" from South Africa and the “VOC B.1.1.28.1 or P.1 or 20J/501Y.V3” from Brazil/Japan. The VOV P.1 and VOC B.1.1.7 variants were the most prevalent in Brazil, with a universe of 334 cases, where the first registered 89.5% (n=299) and the second 10.5% (n=35). The Northeast region (NE) registered the highest preponderance of the two variants accounting for 32.6% (n=109) and the state of Paraiba (PB) the highest preponderance of the VOV P.1 variant with 23.1% (n=69) . Final considerations : Mutations of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19, may have caused the emergence of a new strain of the virus in circulation in Brazil.