A highly infectious variant of coronavirus that was first detected in the UK is now spreading rapidly in the USA. The variant, B.1.1.7, has been detected in at least 34 states so far and is expected to continue to circulate.
A new prepress study estimates that cases of the variant are doubling in the United States every nine days, with an increased transmission rate of up to 45%. “Our study shows that the United States is on a similar trajectory as other countries where B.1.1.7 quickly became the dominant variant of SARS-CoV-2, requiring immediate and decisive action,” wrote the researchers.
In a January report, researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned that B.1.1.7 could become the dominant strain of SARS-CoV-2, the new coronavirus that causes COVID-19, in March . Another report released by the UK government’s scientific advisory group found that there is a “realistic possibility” that a B.1.1.7 infection “is associated with an increased risk of death” when compared to other strains of the virus.
The findings are “worrying,” said Anthony Fauci, MD, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, on a January 35 interview in Today. “The data has not been officially released, but taking a look at the preliminary data that UK scientists have analyzed, I am quite convinced that there is a degree of increase in the severity of the actual infection, that we really have to keep an eye on it. ”
Here’s what the experts know about the coronavirus B.1.1.7 variant so far and what you can do to protect yourself.
What is B.1.1.7 and where did it come from?
Coronavirus variants, such as B.1.1.7, began to emerge after the original dominant strain of SARS-CoV-2 began to mutate. It is important to remember that all viruses mutate. They are not always a cause for concern, but it is worth watching others when they start spreading quickly.
“When SARS-CoV-2 replicates, mistakes are made – not infrequently,” said Stanley H. Weiss, MD, professor at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and the Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology at Rutgers School of Public Health, formerly Prevention .with. “Most of them are defective, do not reproduce very well, do not continue and do not matter. Occasionally, the wrong set of combinations and mutations can occur. “
B.1.1.7 is notable for its number of mutations – six key mutations, to be exact – including some that directly involve the spike protein, which has generated “great interest”, says Dr. Weiss, since this is the part of the coronavirus that binds to human cells.
The CDC reports that B.1.1.7 is estimated to have appeared in the UK in September 2020 and that it is associated with “more efficient and faster transmission”. It has already been detected in several countries, including the USA and Canada.
How many states have confirmed infections B.1.1.7?
Variant B.1.1.7 was first identified in the United States in December. A Colorado man in his 20s with no reported travel history tested positive and recovered alone.
Since then, at the time of publication, nearly 1,000 B.1.1.7 infections have been identified in 34 states, according to CDC data. Florida and California, in particular, have significantly higher B.1.1.7 case counts. That number is expected to increase across the country in the coming months.
Does variant B.1.1.7 cause symptoms other than COVID-19?
There are many scientists who don’t know about this variant, but “the symptoms don’t seem to be different at this point,” says Prathit Kulkarni, MD, assistant professor of medicine in infectious diseases at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.
As a result, “there is no way for you to know if your symptoms could be caused by the original strain of SARS-CoV-2 or B.1.1.7,” says Thomas Russo, MD, professor and chief of infectious diseases at University at Buffalo in New York. “Only the test will tell if you have this variant,” he says.
This means that you should still be aware of the most common signs of COVID-19: fever, chills, shortness of breath, fatigue, muscle or body pain, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or rhinorrhea, nausea or vomiting or diarrhea.
Is B.1.1.7 really much more contagious?
According to the data we have so far, yes. In fact, a prepress study from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine estimates that variant B.1.1.7 is 56% more contagious than the original SARS-CoV-2 strain. Another study, by researchers at Imperial College London, found that the viral reproduction of B.1.1.7 – the average number of people to whom an infected person passes the virus – was 1.45. The number before the appearance of the variant was 0.92.
B.1.1.7 was first detected in the UK in September, but the variant accounted for a quarter of the cases in London in November, according to the BBC. In the week of 9 December, it accounted for 60% of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in London. “There is emerging data to suggest that the new variant is about 50 to 60% more contagious than the previous most circulating strain,” said Kulkarni.
There is also data to suggest that B.1.1.7 may be more likely to infect children, scientists from the United Kingdom’s New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threat Advisory Group told reporters in mid-December. “We have not established any causality in this, but we can see it in the data,” Neil Ferguson, professor and infectious disease epidemiologist at Imperial College London, told Reuters. We need to collect more data to see how it behaves going forward. “
Do the available COVID-19 vaccines have an effect against B.1.1.7?
Currently, manufacturers of the COVID-19 vaccines authorized for use in the US – Moderna and Pfizer – have declared that their vaccines are up to 95% effective against B.1.1.7. Novavax, which is currently in phase 3 clinical trials in the United States, announced in late January that its vaccine was almost 86% effective against B.1.1.7.
What should you do to protect yourself from B.1.1.7?
In addition to B.1.1.7, other highly infectious variants – including those that emerged from Brazil and South Africa – have been detected in the USA. This should not cause panic, but it should serve as a reminder that now is not the time to slow down in “following common sense precautions,” says infectious disease specialist Amesh A. Adalja, MD, senior fellow at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security.
“The basic public health recommendations also remain the same,” says Dr. Kulkarni. Keep avoiding large meetings, social distance from people outside your home, washing your hands frequently and wearing a face mask that fits your nose and mouth perfectly.
For added protection, especially in high-risk environments, such as on a crowded bus or in line at a busy supermarket, experts (including Dr. Fauci) say you can choose a double mask (wear a surgical mask or KN95 with a upper cloth mask, as long as it does not restrict breathing) or wear a face shield over the mask.
Dr. Russo emphasizes “we are likely to have additional variations of COVID-19 in the future” and we will have to adjust our response accordingly – so when you have a chance to get the vaccine, it is crucial that you do this to protect yourself and those around you.
This article is correct at the time of publication. However, as the COVID-19 pandemic evolves rapidly and the scientific community’s understanding of the new coronavirus develops, some of the information may have changed since the last update. While our goal is to keep all of our stories up to date, visit the online resources provided by CDC, WHOit’s yours local department of public health to stay informed about the latest news. Always speak to your doctor for professional medical advice.
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