NEW DELHI: The new strain of coronavirus first discovered in the UK has caused a global outbreak as it is believed to be more contagious than other SARS-CoV-2 mutations.
Several countries, including India, have announced several levels of loopholes to prevent the spread of the mutated coronavirus even as the world gradually begins to fight the pandemic with early vaccination campaigns .
However, there is a good chance that the new variant of Covid-19 may not be as harmful after all. How come?
The new variant – known as B.1.1.7 or VUI-202012/01 – is certainly not the first variant of SARS-Cov-2 but it is certainly the first “under review”.
For the record, more than 12,000 mutations have been found in the first 50,000 genomes of the virus and with this, scientists have recorded more than four times that number.
To date, there has been little evidence to suggest that the new strain of the virus is leading to a more potent form of Covid-19, although there is ample evidence to suggest that it is more common. -moving or more contagious – and then there may be a blessing in panic.
According to Ian Jones, professor of virology at the University of Reading, UK, “the general rule in virology is that better transmission is associated with milder illness”.
This is not a completely new hypothesis – it is based in fact on the “law of recession” set out by 19th century physician Theobald Smith.
According to Smith, there is a “delicate balance” between pathogen and host that allows the virus to become a less lethal strain.
Experts say if a virus moves to become more lethal or lethal, it is likely to kill its host, even before it gets a chance to catch and spread to others.
Thus, mutation may be the response of the pathogen to become more susceptible to becoming as infectious as possible.
Case in point: the Ebola virus was spread quickly but was deadly, resulting in the death of the host and eventual outbreak when the chance of spread diminished.
Jones also said that bird flu, which showed in laboratory tests that when the virus became more susceptible, did not kill “any of the animals used” – indicating that the virus may be fatal or more contagious, but not both.
However, Jonathan Ball, professor of virology at the University of Nottingham, advises caution against this kind of thinking, which means “laziness” – citing examples of the rabies virus and HIV.
Indeed, in the case of HIV, which has killed more than 30 million people worldwide, mutations can also explain why vaccines are not accessible.
Ball ‘s argument is supported by Ravindra Gupta, a Cambridge University psychologist, who says that a pathogen is OK by killing the host if it has already spread, which is “why HIV kills the guest but still controls such widespread transmission. ”
And while experts have figured out which mutation is more likely to be fatal, they agree on one thing – don’t allow the virus to come forward and find a set of mutations that are beneficial.
Several countries, including India, have announced several levels of loopholes to prevent the spread of the mutated coronavirus even as the world gradually begins to fight the pandemic with early vaccination campaigns .
However, there is a good chance that the new variant of Covid-19 may not be as harmful after all. How come?
The new variant – known as B.1.1.7 or VUI-202012/01 – is certainly not the first variant of SARS-Cov-2 but it is certainly the first “under review”.
For the record, more than 12,000 mutations have been found in the first 50,000 genomes of the virus and with this, scientists have recorded more than four times that number.
To date, there has been little evidence to suggest that the new strain of the virus is leading to a more potent form of Covid-19, although there is ample evidence to suggest that it is more common. -moving or more contagious – and then there may be a blessing in panic.
According to Ian Jones, professor of virology at the University of Reading, UK, “the general rule in virology is that better transmission is associated with milder illness”.
This is not a completely new hypothesis – it is based in fact on the “law of recession” set out by 19th century physician Theobald Smith.
According to Smith, there is a “delicate balance” between pathogen and host that allows the virus to become a less lethal strain.
Experts say if a virus moves to become more lethal or lethal, it is likely to kill its host, even before it gets a chance to catch and spread to others.
Thus, mutation may be the response of the pathogen to become more susceptible to becoming as infectious as possible.
Case in point: the Ebola virus was spread quickly but was deadly, resulting in the death of the host and eventual outbreak when the chance of spread diminished.
Jones also said that bird flu, which showed in laboratory tests that when the virus became more susceptible, did not kill “any of the animals used” – indicating that the virus may be fatal or more contagious, but not both.
However, Jonathan Ball, professor of virology at the University of Nottingham, advises caution against this kind of thinking, which means “laziness” – citing examples of the rabies virus and HIV.
Indeed, in the case of HIV, which has killed more than 30 million people worldwide, mutations can also explain why vaccines are not accessible.
Ball ‘s argument is supported by Ravindra Gupta, a Cambridge University psychologist, who says that a pathogen is OK by killing the host if it has already spread, which is “why HIV kills the guest but still controls such widespread transmission. ”
And while experts have figured out which mutation is more likely to be fatal, they agree on one thing – don’t allow the virus to come forward and find a set of mutations that are beneficial.