Two new versions of Covid-19 have been identified as a concern in the UK, reportedly being more portable than the previous version. Here is what we know so far.
What are the new versions?
One apparently arose in Kent in September and the other appears to have been imported from South Africa, with Matt Hancock saying on Wednesday that two cases had been identified in the UK. . Some things are similar but not identical.
How did they come to light?
The RA variant was found in a study into why coronavirus cases in Kent were still on the rise during the November lockout. Public Health England found a collection of cases caused by a variable with a high number of seizures. Looking back at the genetic sequences of viruses collected in previous months, they found that it first appeared in Kent on September 20, with another case in Greater London the next day. New variable diseases have since emerged and spread across the country.
The South African variant appears to have been captured by genomic analysis this month.
how come are they different the oldest coronavirus?
What is amazing about the new change in the UK is the number of soles it carries. There are 23 modifications to the genetic code. Six are not thought to be affected by the virus, but others may alter their behavior. The most worrying mutations are in the spike protein that adorns the surface of the virus. This helps the virus attack cells and is the target for most vaccines. At least three of the spike mutations, N501Y, N439K and Y453F, may help the virus to capture human cells. These, and another change in the spike called delta69/70, may help the virus avoid antibodies from people who have previously contracted the virus or been shot. The UK difference is called B117 or VUI-202012/01, making it the first “variable under review” in December 2020. There are a number of mutations in various South Africans, including including N501Y mutations.
Where did the UK variant come from?
No one knows The data shows that it all occurred in one person. This may occur in patients with Covid-19 infection, as the virus has time to undergo many changes within a single body. One chance is that it arose in patients with an immune system who were treated over weeks or months with antibodies from a recovered patient. In this case, the antibodies suppress some mutations of the virus, leaving others at least partially resistant to treatment. Another idea is that the variant was imported from another country. It is not clear where the South African variety came from.
Why and how is the UK variable spreading faster?
Scientists are very confident that the new version is more mobile than the old ones. Key evidence comes from the observation that the new variable continued to spread in Kent and other areas during the November lockout while old changes declined. Several things could make it easier to move. If the virus is more contagious – as many scientists suspect – less is needed to transmit the disease. The virus may reproduce more rapidly in the airways, or infect humans for a longer period of time, making them more likely to transmit the virus. The South African variant carries the same N501Y mutation that could accelerate transmission.
Are these variables greater or more dangerous than others?
This is one of the most important questions scientists are working on. Early indications are that the disease caused by the new variables is not worse, but more data are needed to be sure. On 18 December, the government’s New and New Respiratory Virus (Nervtag) Risk Advisory Group reported four deaths in around 1,000 cases of the new variable coronavirus in the UK. But scientists need to compare this to the death rate in 1,000 age-like cases to see if it is higher or lower than normal. Data from the Office for National Statistics suggest that the new variant in the UK is slightly more contagious in younger people than previous versions. With the rapid spread of the new variant in the UK, the death rate could rise even though the disease it causes is not as severe. It is not yet clear whether the South African variable will take the same level.
Should we change social distance or other rules?
Bringing out the new changes more quickly means that existing measures such as social pace and hygiene rules need to be taken more seriously. Hands must be washed thoroughly and frequently. Masks must be of good quality, fit well, and worn properly. It makes sense to spend them in more enclosed spaces, even if the normal rules do not require it. Make sure homes are properly ventilated to refresh the air, especially if people are visiting over Christmas. The added risk of walking or running past someone outside is very small, but remember that the closer you are to other people, the greater the risk of infection.
Has the UK variable spread to other countries?
There is. Other countries such as Denmark, the Netherlands and Australia have reported issues of the new variable. Neil Ferguson at Imperial College London said the new variation may have been in most, if not all, European countries. The UK and Denmark have very good surveillance for genetic mutations in the virus, but other countries produce far fewer strains.
Is the UK variant the largest in Europe or worldwide?
Maybe he will. In the UK, the new variable is growing rapidly and eliminating others. At the Milton Keynes Lighthouse laboratory the new variant makes up about three-quarters of the advanced tests. But what happens across Europe and elsewhere depends on the UK’s ability to intervene and other countries to prevent its introduction and stop local transmission if she has already got a leg.
Will the new versions change the course of the pandemic?
Almost certainly. It was expected that more people would be infected and that uptake of the vaccine must be higher in order to reach “herd immunity” – where so many people are immune to the virus that the pandemic is pushing out. In the short term, these transitional changes could cause the pandemic to last longer, and ultimately gain more life.
Do vaccines need to be renewed?
Vaccines are unlikely to need to be changed immediately. Although there are several mutations in the spike protein in the two new variants, most respond to vaccines by releasing a wide range of antibodies that remove the virus by scavenging. up different parts of it. So even though some antibodies generated by the vaccine may not work as well against the virus, others are unlikely to be affected. Overall, vaccinations may be less effective, but the effects may be negligible.
How quickly can vaccines be changed if needed?
It depends on the vaccine. So-called mRNA vaccines, such as the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine, are based on a strand of a genetic material, the mRNA, that can be replicated in a day or two. The Oxford / AstraZeneca vaccine also uses a genetic code for the spike protein and can be rapidly replicated. The next steps, such as testing to ensure the correct immune response, can take place within weeks of clearance and manufacturing.