A patient is taken to an ambulance outside the Royal London Hospital in London during England’s third national blockade to contain the spread of the coronavirus. Date of the photo: Wednesday, February 17, 2021.
Ian West | PA images | Getty Images
The highly contagious coronavirus variant first identified in the UK is associated with a 64% higher risk of dying from Covid-19 than previous strains, according to a new study published in the British Medical Journal.
Researchers at the University of Exeter and the University of Bristol analyzed data from more than 100,000 patients in the UK between October 1 and January 28. They compared mortality rates between people infected with B.1.1.7, the variant found for the first time in the UK, and those infected with other strains previously circulating.
The researchers, who published their findings on Wednesday, said that people infected with B.1.1.7 were between 32% and 104% more likely to die. This translates into a central estimate of 64%, they said, adding that “the absolute risk of death in this largely unvaccinated population remains low”.
“In the community, death from COVID-19 is still a rare event, but variant B.1.1.7 increases the risk. Together with its ability to spread quickly, this makes B.1.1.7 a threat that must be taken. seriously, “Robert Challen, the lead author of the study in Exeter, said in a press release.
The researchers said that B.1.1.7 led to 227 deaths in a sample of 54,906 patients. This compares to 141 deaths in approximately the same number of patients infected with other strains.
They said that with the variant already detected in more than 50 countries worldwide, “the analysis provides crucial information for governments and health officials to help prevent its spread.”
The UK identified B.1.1.7, which appears to spread more easily and quickly than other strains, in the fall of 2020. Since then, it has spread to other parts of the globe, including the US, which has identified 3,283 cases as of Tuesday. fair, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. US health officials say they are working to identify more cases.
The new study comes about two months after a CDC study warns that B.1.1.7 may become the dominant strain in the United States. CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky told JAMA on February 17 that variant B.1.1.7 is considered to be about 50% more transmissible and initial data indicates that it may be up to 50% more virulent or deadly.
New variants are of particular concern to public health officials, as they may become more resistant to treatment with antibodies and vaccines. Leading health officials, including the White House chief medical advisor, Dr. Anthony Fauci, are asking Americans to be vaccinated as soon as possible, saying the virus cannot mutate unless it infects its hosts and replicates.