An investigation is under way as health services try to track down a person who tested positive for a coronavirus "variant of concern" first detected in Manaus, Brazil.

The individual did not complete their test registration card so follow-up details are not available.

This is one of three cases of the variant of concern identified in England, with two detected in South Gloucestershire. Up to six cases of the variant of concern have been identified in the UK.

The variant, given the name P.1, has been designated "of concern" as it shares some important mutations with the variant first identified in South Africa.

"It is possible that this variant may respond less well to current vaccines, but more work is needed to understand this," a government spokesman said.

Rachel Miranda, a medical laboratory assistant (MLA), prepares Covid-19 tests for analysis in the laboratory at Whiston Hospital in Merseyside. PA Photo. Picture date: Tuesday October 20, 2020. The team of scientists are working round the clock at the hos

Covid-19 tests are prepared for analysis in a laboratory 

"Further investigation is under way regarding the third case in England. The individual did not complete their test registration card so follow-up details are not available.

"We are therefore asking for anyone who undertook a test on February 12 or 13 and hasn’t received their result or has an uncompleted test registration card, to call 119 in England or 0300 303 2713 in Scotland for assistance as soon as possible."

The two cases of the P.1 variant identified in South Gloucestershire were found within one household which has a history of travel to Brazil.

The third has been described as a "currently unlinked case".

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: "The cases in South Gloucestershire were rapidly followed up by the Public Health England (PHE) Health Protection Team – cases and their contacts have been identified and retested. One case that had travelled to Brazil has been isolating at home with their household since returning to the UK.

"PHE and NHS Test and Trace are following up with all passengers on Swiss Air flight LX318 travelling from Sao Paulo via Zurich and landing in London Heathrow on 10 February, to provide public health advice and test them and their households.

"Anyone who returned to the UK at that time should have gone home immediately from the airport and isolated for 10 days.

"If you were a passenger on the flight and have not been contacted, please call 01174 503 174 to arrange a test for you and your household contacts.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock takes a coronavirus test at a new Covid-19 testing facility in the Houses of Parliament in London watched by the Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle. The voluntary walk-in test centre has been set up for MPs an

Health Secretary Matt Hancock takes a coronavirus test at a Covid-19 testing facility in the Houses of Parliament, London

"Although the risk to the wider community is considered low, as a precaution, PHE, working in collaboration with South Gloucestershire Council and NHS Test and Trace, is taking swift and decisive action to deploy surge asymptomatic testing as well as increasing sequencing of positive samples from the area.

The health body said the most important action at this time was to identify cases and their contacts, then support them to isolate effectively to stop the spread of the new variant.

Dr Susan Hopkins, PHE strategic response director for Covid-19 and NHS Test and Trace Medical Advisor, said: "We have identified these cases thanks to the UK’s advanced sequencing capabilities which means we are finding more variants and mutations than many other countries and are therefore able to take action quickly.

"The important thing to remember is that Covid-19, no matter what variant it is, spreads in the same way.

"That means the measures to stop it spreading do not change. Stay at home and if you do need to go out for essential reasons, cover your nose and mouth, wash your hands thoroughly and keep your distance."