Alabama, father of two, who contracted the UK variant COVID-19, dies at 35

Alabama, father of two, who contracted the UK variant COVID-19, dies at 35

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A family in Jefferson County, Alabama, is in mourning after a father of two died of a British variant of COVID-19, aged just 35.

Alfonzia Jackson Jr., 35, was diagnosed with variant B.1.1.7 at the beginning of last week, while struggling to live in the UAB hospital.

On Tuesday night, his wife, Ashley Jackson, logged on to Facebook at around 9 pm to announce that Alfonzia had died.

‘Sir, this day has been difficult,’ Ashley posted on Facebook. ‘I wouldn’t wish that on anyone when I said goodbye to my incredible husband.’

She continued: ‘Our girls are going to miss you very much, you were an amazing father and I will keep your memory alive through them and they will always remember you.

Alfonzia Jackson Jr., Ashley's husband and father of two daughters, passed away on Tuesday night

Alfonzia Jackson Jr., Ashley’s husband and father of two daughters, passed away on Tuesday night

Jackson had the UK's COVID-19 variant

He was on a respirator in the days leading up to his death

Jackson had the UK variant COVID-19 and was on a respirator in the days leading up to his death

‘You are now our guardian angel and you are at peace, rest with my wonderful husband until we meet again.’

She also posted an exciting tribute with family photos and videos, set to I’ll Be Missing You.

The WBRC previously reported on Alfonzia Jackson Jr., which Ashley said was admitted to the hospital with symptoms of COVID and shortness of breath on January 22, although she has no idea how he would have contracted the virus.

“My husband just went to work and home,” said Ashley Jackson. ‘Gas station here and there. Nothing like going out and having fun, just a hardworking man. ‘

Rapid tests showed a negative diagnosis for COVID-19, but after surgery to relieve heart failure, a PCR test showed that Alfonzia had COVID-19.

Ashley Jackson announced the death of Alfonzia on Facebook with an emotional tribute

Ashley Jackson announced the death of Alfonzia on Facebook with an emotional tribute

Alfonzia Jackson Jr. was admitted to the hospital on January 22 with symptoms of COVID

Alfonzia Jackson Jr. was admitted to the hospital on January 22 with symptoms of COVID

The Jefferson County Department of Health later called Ashley to tell her that Alfonzia had the UK variant.

Alfonzia was put on a fan a few days before he died.

The GoFundMe page originally created to pay for medical expenses has raised more than $ 131,000 for the family so far.

COVID-19 mutations have always been possible, as viruses are often characterized by their ability to change and adapt.

Mutated strains from the UK, South Africa and Brazil have come into focus recently, however, with the UK strain becoming the most prevalent mutation in the United States.

The latest from the CDC reports 541 cases of the United Kingdom’s mutation in the United States in 33 different states.

Meanwhile, there have been only five reported cases of other significant mutations combined to this point.

The UK variant was initially considered just more contagious, although UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said it could also be more deadly.

It is not clear how the father of two children may have contracted the virus, according to his wife

It is not clear how the father of two children may have contracted the virus, according to his wife

A GoFundMe initially set aside for medical expenses raised more than $ 131,000 for the family

A GoFundMe initially set aside for medical expenses raised more than $ 131,000 for the family

The two vaccines currently available in the United States are considered effective against the variants, although booster vaccines may be needed later.

Last week, a person in New Jersey died of the United Kingdom variant, which is believed to be the strain’s first death in the United States.

The person who died in New Jersey had no recent history of international travel.

Alabama has seen only three confirmed cases of the UK variant, although deficiencies in the sequencing of the virus across the country leave open the possibility that the strain is far more prevalent than is being reported.

The death toll from COVID-19 is approaching 450,000 in the United States

The death toll from COVID-19 is approaching 450,000 in the United States

The tragedy in that state comes in the wake of some positive developments in the fight against COVID-19.

The most recent data from Johns Hopkins University showed a 44 percent decline in coronavirus cases three weeks ago over a seven-day period.

With vaccination rates remaining relatively low in the United States, it is not believed to be a factor in the decline in numbers, making prospects even more optimistic.

Instead, the decline can be attributed to a decrease in travel since the end of the holiday season.

It may also be due to a lower number of cases than those who actually contracted the virus, with antibodies protecting these people.

In total, there were more than 26 million cases of COVID-19 in the United States, with the death toll rapidly approaching 450,000.

Among the variants in the United States, the United Kingdom strain is the most dominant, with spreading across 33 states and counting so far and accounting for more than 500 cases

Among the variants in the United States, the United Kingdom strain is the most dominant, with spreading across 33 states and counting so far and accounting for more than 500 cases

WHAT ARE THE ‘SUPER-COVID’ VARIANTS SPREADING THROUGHOUT THE WORLD?

UK KENT VARIANT – B117

UK health officials announced in December that a ‘concern variant’ had emerged in Kent.

The variant is known to scientists as B117, a name derived from the location of its most significant mutations.

B117 appears to be more infectious than the older “wild-type” coronavirus variants.

Most estimates put it at around 70% more infectious, but some studies suggest it may be twice as infectious, while more moderate projections say its transmissibility is only about 56% higher.

B117 quickly became dominant in the UK and now accounts for at least 61% of the cases there.

It has been detected in 60 countries, including the USA, where at least 159 cases in 22 states have been identified.

Although its mutations clearly appear to make the variant more infectious, it does not appear to alter the chances of severe COVID-19 or death.

But UK health officials said Friday that it could be 30 to 40% more deadly, based on how many infected people die. The death rate of people hospitalized with B117 in the United Kingdom does not look different from the older variants.

After analyzing the UK data, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the leading infectious disease specialist in the United States, said it could be more deadly.

However, he and UK officials still say other variants are more worrying because they could make vaccines less effective – which does not seem to be the case for the UK variant.

SOUTH AFRICA VARIANT – B1351

A new variant was announced in South Africa on December 18.

It shares a mutation with the UK variant – at a location in its genome known as 501Y – but it also has several other mutations.

It is estimated that the South African variant is about 50% more contagious and is already dominant there.

It has spread to at least 20 countries, including the United Kingdom, which has at least 77 countries.

The South African mutant variant has yet to be detected in the United States – but many experts suspect it is already here.

President Joe Biden invoked a travel ban for people coming from South Africa in an effort to prevent the import of the new variant.

Dr. Fauci says the South African variant is the most worrying because it can make vaccines less effective due to mutations that help to ‘hide’ antibodies developed after vaccination or a previous session of COVID-19.

VARIANT OF BRAZIL – P1

The variant drew international attention for the first time when four travelers arriving in Tokyo from Manaus, Brazil, tested positive on January 2.

The variant has the same peak protein mutation as the highly transmissible versions found in Kent and South Africa – called N501Y – which makes the peak better able to bind to receptors within the body.

Manaus, the largest city in the Amazon, was devastated by COVID-19. Hospitals are running out of oxygen and Brazilian officials have said they are in a state of crisis.

The new variant accounts for almost half of all cases there and is considered more contagious and possibly makes vaccines less effective.

The variant was found in Japan, France and Germany. It has not yet been detected in the UK or the United States – but former FDA commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb said he suspected he had already arrived.

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