Within the past month new novel coronavirus variants have appeared in the UK, in South Africa, and in Brazil. These variants are more robust than the original virus, able to infect more easily and spread more rapidly. Possibly they are also more deadly, more virulent, data does hint at the possibility, but conclusive scientific data one way or the other has yet to emerge. Possibly they are also more resistant to the current vaccines and to the human immune system, though again conclusive scientific data one way or the other is not yet available.
These variants are gradually replacing the original coronavirus. It is estimated that in the United States that 1/3 of infections will be from the UK variant by mid-year, whereas right now its representation among infected individuals is miniscule. This is precisely what beneficial mutations do, outcompete and replace other variants.
Looks like the Brit variant is coming to get us hard. Projections that it will become the predominant bug in this country, with its more infectious and therefore deadly state, by March.
With all that light at the end of this long tunnel shining us in the face we are seeing that tunnel get longer and longer. We'll not be done with this for quite some time.
Je suis Charlie. Je suis Ahmed. Je suis Juif. Je suis Parisien. I am Mancunian. I am Brum. I am London.I am Finland. Soy Barcelona
"Life, don't talk to me about life" - Marvin the Paranoid Android
"Science adjusts it's views based on what's observed. Faith is the denial of observation so that Belief can be preserved." - Tim Minchin, in his beat poem, Storm.
In this society a USA variant is probably already here ... and there ... and over there. Besides, biologically, given this virus's proven proclivities, world-wide strains will be popping up for decades. This may end up being mixed into the annual vaccine schedules.
Not Invented Here has changed to Now Evolved Here as California leads the way with it's very own virulent variation. Plus one new symptom is you suddenly develop a craving for Orange Julius, Pinks Hot Dogs, Hamburger Haven and House of Pies.
A lone infection may have changed the course of the pandemic
The number of mutations in the UK variant took scientists by surprise. Now they think its origins may lie in one person, chronically infected with the virus
Je suis Charlie. Je suis Ahmed. Je suis Juif. Je suis Parisien. I am Mancunian. I am Brum. I am London.I am Finland. Soy Barcelona
"Life, don't talk to me about life" - Marvin the Paranoid Android
"Science adjusts it's views based on what's observed. Faith is the denial of observation so that Belief can be preserved." - Tim Minchin, in his beat poem, Storm.
Now they think its origins may lie in one person, chronically infected with the virus
That's very interesting.
Kind of useless information for this particular virus as the problem has already extended beyond control.
But.. if a link can be well-understood between "chronic infection" and inflated mutation rates... then it seems like a very nice way to further our health-care and virus-control policies.