Russian health experts said on Tuesday vaccines manufactured in the country have proven to be effective against new variants of the coronavirus, following detection of the strain first reported in South Africa.

According to Reuters, President Vladimir Putin last month ordered a review to determine the efficacy of the three vaccines produced and registered in Russia against new variants spreading in different parts of the world. He said he wanted the results by March 15.

Consumer regulator Rospotrebnadzor said earlier on Tuesday it had identified the first two cases in Russia of the new variant of the coronavirus first detected in South Africa.

"In fact, trials have already been done in Russia and we can say with confidence that the (Sputnik V and EpiVacCoriona) vaccines registered in Russia also work against new strains," Reuters quotes Alexander Gorelov, deputy head of research at Rospotrebnadzor's Institute of Epidemiology.

He however gave no details on trials that had tested vaccines against variants first discovered abroad.

The variant first identified in South Africa in December has now been detected in 40 countries, according to the World Health Organization.

South African experts say there is no clear evidence that the variant causes more severe disease or worse outcomes. It however appears to spread faster that previous strains.

(With input from agencies)