In mid-September this year, epidemiologists were surprised to find a new type (or strain) of coronavirus that was quite different from the others. This strain has been observed in Kent and the Greater London area of the UK. This species, called B.1.1.7, continued to appear throughout the UK and a few other countries. Prior to December, British health officials were concerned about the speed with which it had spread, and a series of strict lock – in and travel bans were enforced. Here, you need to know everything about the new Coronavirus strain.
What does it mean to have a new snoring virus?
All viruses can go around. The molecules that encode the genetic sequence (DNA or RNA), like any physical object, can change over time. Viral mutations can lead to: (1) No change in the shape of the virus or its behavior; (2) Change in the shape of the virus, but no change in virus behavior; and (3) change the shape of the virus and how it behaves. Any change in behavior could be neutral (no difference in how the virus affects us), positive (the virus is possible less harmful), or negative (the virus is possible more cronail). This new variant is worrying to be harmful because a change in its behavior could cause it to spread more easily.
Coronaviruses move more slowly than other viruses, such as the flu, but as soon as it suffocates it can be accelerated in certain conditions (such as within patients with immunodeficiencies or with specific medications). Epidemiologists have been monitoring the various changes circulating around the globe.
Why is this pressure in the news?
This strain stands out for three reasons. First, it’s progressive – it is much different from the other variables, with a much higher number of openings. Second, this variant, B.1.1.7, has appeared and spread very quickly, faster than other variants. It was first detected on 20 September, but by mid-November officials reported that 26% of all cases in the UK; by the first week of December, 60% of all cases were in London. Third, when we take a closer look at the details of the mutations, they appear to be encoding changes in the virus that may (theoretically) help the virus spread more efficiently.
It is difficult to be sure whether this variable spreads more rapidly. There could be some difficult reasons – perhaps instead of spreading faster, this strain was just coincidental in more densely populated areas or shifting with holiday travel patterns. Of course this year we have seen that early data can be misleading or misleading and more remains to be seen. out.
Will it make us sicker than the other variables?
At this time, there is no evidence that it can make people sicker than the other series, but it is difficult to say for sure at this time. If so rinn sicker people, we would expect people with this new strain to be hospitalized and / or die at a higher rate than those infected with other strains. It is too early, however, to tell if there is any difference. There is documentary evidence in South Africa that younger, healthier people may become ill from snoring there, but it is possible that this difference is due to other factors (e.g., location, more transparency, etc.).
Where is this virus now?
This variant was first detected in the UK, but has now been reported in the Netherlands, Denmark and Australia. The strain already appears to be in strain in other countries, including the US, but the UK found it faster because they were monitoring wider viral spread. Other mutations can also occur. Snoring that appeared in South Africa shares one of the mutations with B.1.1.7 that affects the shape of the virus – this South African virus seems to have spread more quickly than expected.
What does this mean for the vaccine?
The mutations in B.1.1.7 affect the shape of one of the targets of both Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines – the spike protein – raising the question of whether the vaccines protect us against their weight new. However, the vaccine stimulates many “layers” of immunity. It’s hard for a strain to be able to get over those layers so quickly. So far, there is a high probability that the vaccines will remain effective. But over time, perhaps on a scale of years, we may need to get boosters or revaccinate, as we do with the seasonal flu virus. One advantage of the new technology on which these vaccines are based is that it is easier to switch vaccines to new targets than the flu vaccine.
What does this mean for us right now?
Officials are currently trying to work out prevention and travel policies in response to this new snort. It seems that we need to establish a better surveillance, similar to the system in the UK, in order to anticipate more mutations. Dr. Fauci, head of the infectious diseases department at the National Institutes of Health, has advised taking this variant seriously, but without overdoing it. Ultimately, the basic response to an infectious virus is to limit the chances of transmission – such as speed and transmission. Pandemic weakness is real, especially during the winter holidays at the end of a difficult year. Speeding and supporting each other as we ramp up the vaccines, this is how we can get through this together.
Dharushana Muthulingam, MD, MS, is an infectious disease physician and public health researcher in St. Louis. Louis.