The British coronavirus strain is doubling in the U.S. every 10 days, according to a study released on Sunday on the medRxiv server.
The researchers estimate that the British variant is expected to become the predominant strain in the United States in March, presenting a potential risk of increased cases and deaths, although the study has not yet been peer-reviewed or published in a medical journal.
“Our study shows that the US is on a similar trajectory to other countries where B.1.1.7 has quickly become the dominant SARS-CoV-2 variant, requiring immediate and decisive action to minimize COVID-19 morbidity and mortality,” de according to study.
“Nothing in this article is surprising, but people need to see it,” said Kristian Andersen, who is co-author of the study and a virologist at the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, California, The New York Times reported.
The researchers estimate that the British strain has spread to at least 33 states in the U.S., according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, The Hill reported.
Scientists suspect that the strain constitutes a higher percentage of cases of coronaovirus in several states, such as Florida, where an estimated 4.5% of cases come from the variant.
That compared to the British variant, which accounts for about 2% of all cases in the U.S., according to the Times. This means that an additional 1,000 people can contract the strain every day.
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