New coronavirus variant detected in California raises alarm

New coronavirus variant detected in California raises alarm

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Two studies to come out soon suggest that the variant, which virologists call B.1.427 / B.1.429, may not only be more contagious, but may also cause more serious illness.

A team of scientists from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), tested virus samples from recent outbreaks across the state and found that the new variant was becoming much more common. It was not seen in any September sample, but in late January it was found in half of them.

An important caveat: the research is in its early stages, has not been published or peer-reviewed and needs more work.

Scientists say the variant has a different mutation pattern than that seen for the first time in the UK and South Africa. One of its mutations affects the virus’s spike protein, which is the part that binds to cells infected by the virus. Dr. Charles Chiu, associate director of the UCSF clinical microbiology laboratory and study leader, said the mutation could make the virus more efficient at connecting to cells, increasing their infectivity.

Chiu’s team also found evidence that it is more dangerous. The scientists said they observed “increased disease severity” associated with the new variant, including “increased risk of high oxygen demand”. Your report will be posted on a prepress server later this week, after public health officials in San Francisco have analyzed it.

New variants may cause complications in the coming weeks in the United States, although infections are decreasing across the country and more people are being vaccinated.

Public health experts fear that new variants are outpacing vaccines, which is why many have highlighted the need to double security measures like wearing face masks, social distance and avoiding crowded areas.

So far, more than 1,900 cases of coronavirus strains first detected in the United Kingdom, South Africa and Brazil have been reported in the United States, data from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show. Most of these cases – about 1,881 – are of the variant first identified in the UK that the CDC warned earlier that it could become the dominant strain next month.

YOU ASKED. WE RESPOND

Q: How should I prepare for vaccination against Covid-19?

ONE: Wait your turn to make an appointment and make sure you follow all instructions. Make sure you need to complete some paperwork in advance and bring all the necessary documentation. Know what you need and make sure you have it.

Try to get all the information in advance. “You want to minimize your time at the vaccination site, and people are likely to be very busy and will not have time to answer your questions in depth,” said CNN medical analyst Dr. Leana Wen, an emergency physician and visiting professor at the School Public Health at the Milken Institute at George Washington University. She said that many answers can be found on the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention FAQs.

And yes, you must absolutely wear a mask in your consultation.

Submit your questions here. Are you a healthcare professional battling Covid-19? Send us a message on WhatsApp about the challenges you are facing: +1 347-322-0415.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT TODAY

Enter Russia’s new Covid-19 vaccine factory

The facility where Soviet scientists previously researched biological weapons is now being used to mass produce a Covid-19 vaccine. Home to Generium Pharmaceutical, which has been contracted to increase production of the Russian vaccine, Sputnik V, the vast high-tech complex in Volginsky, about 70 miles east of Moscow, is one of seven new factories across the country.

Sputnik V has become one of the most-ordered vaccines in the world, with at least 30 countries signing contracts for about 2.5 billion doses, according to data from the Russian Direct Investment Fund. But the Russians’ demand for Sputnik V was much less enthusiastic, report Zahra Ullah and Matthew Chance.
The vaccine vials are packaged at the Generium Pharmaceutical factory.

Ghana is the first country to receive vaccines through COVAX

Today, Ghana is receiving the first worldwide shipment of Covid-19 vaccines through the World Health Organization’s COVAX program, which aims to distribute vaccines to low- and middle-income countries that would otherwise not be able to afford them.

The country of 30 million people is receiving 600,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines produced by the Serum Institute of India. Ghana has reported at least 80,759 cases of Covid-19 and 582 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University.

Last month, India and the African Union announced plans for the Serum Institute to provide 400 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines to Africa. The global launch of the vaccine has been incredibly uneven: of the more than 212 million doses of vaccine that have been administered worldwide, the majority have gone to people living in wealthy countries.

US to receive 240 million doses of vaccine by April

The United States can expect to receive 240 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine by the end of March, pharmaceutical companies told a House subcommittee on Tuesday.

Pfizer and Moderna – the two companies with Covid-19 vaccines authorized for emergency use in the United States – have committed to making a combined total of 220 million doses available for shipment by the end of March. Meanwhile, Johnson & Johnson, which could obtain emergency use authorization for its Covid-19 vaccine from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration later this week, pledged to make 20 million doses available over the same period.

ON OUR RADAR

  • A study that found that teachers – not students – were the likely source of several school-related Covid-19 outbreaks highlights the need to maintain safety measures and prioritize school teachers and staff for vaccinations, said the CDC.
  • WHO reports the sixth consecutive week of reduction in global coronavirus cases.
  • The Philippines will allow nurses to work in Britain and Germany in exchange for vaccines against the coronavirus.
  • United States President Joe Biden says his government is “likely” to ship millions of masks soon.
  • Some TV shows tell stories about the pandemic. Some viewers would like it not.
  • A new app to help travelers store and manage their Covid-19 test and vaccine certifications is set to launch next month.

BEST TIP

Quarantines, social distance, remote learning, WFH … it’s no wonder that the pandemic has caused a huge increase in the number of people who feel lonely.
There are ways to decrease loneliness, even in a confinement. For example, this new study shows that talking to someone on the phone for just 10 minutes several times a week – if you are in control of the conversation – can make a big difference.

TODAY’S PODCAST

“We found new real data on human cases in December, many more cases than we thought and many more cases that were not associated with the market.” – Peter Daszak, President of the EcoHealth Alliance

The zoologist and president of the EcoHealth Alliance, Peter Daszak, has just returned from Wuhan, China. CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta talks to him about what it is like now and his findings as part of a World Health Organization investigation Listen now.

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