The World Health Organization's chief scientist, Soumya Swaminathan, says it is "very unlikely" the latest mutation of the coronavirus will cause the current vaccines not to work.

She told BBC World News that scientists around the world were carrying out lab experiments to confirm the vaccines would still be effective.

"They are taking this virus, this strain, they are growing it in the lab and then they are looking to see whether it can be killed or neutralised by antibodies taken from people who have either had a natural infection or have had the vaccine," she said.

Meanwhile, India has decided to halt flights to and from the UK in response to a new, more infectious coronavirus variant spreading in the UK.

Other European countries such as Germany, France and Italy have already suspended UK flights.

Health officials say the new variant is up to 70% more transmissible but there is no evidence that it is more deadly.

With more than 10 million confirmed cases, India has the second-highest caseload after the US.

India's Ministry of Civil Aviation said that flights will be suspended from 22 December until 31 December.

Despite the concern over the high transmission speed of the new strain, experts say there is no evidence to suggest that it reacts differently to vaccines.

Story Credit; https://www.bbc.com/news/av/health-55398713