There are many variants of the coronavirus that are spreading worldwide, but health experts are particularly concerned about the emergence of three variants that were first detected in the United Kingdom, South Africa and Brazil. They seem to spread more easily and research is underway to see if they cause serious illness.
Because a virus infects humans, it can mutate because it makes copies of itself. Some mutations can be harmful to a virus and cause it to become extinct. Others can provide an advantage and help spread it.
“Not every mutation is the same,” said Mary Petrone, who studies infectious diseases at Yale University. “The virus is going to be happy now and then.”
Monitoring variants is important because of the possibility that they may make vaccines and treatments less effective or change the way they infect humans.
A mutation early in the pandemic has fueled the spread of the virus around the world, but since then there have been no significant changes – said Daniel Jones, a biologist at Ohio State University.
One of the three main variants that experts are watching was discovered in the UK late last year and has since been detected in dozens of countries. Health officials initially said it did not appear to be causing the disease, but some newer information suggested it was possible – which is currently unknown. It seems to spread more easily, which can lead to more hospitalizations and deaths.
According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, the variant could become dominant in the US by March.
Other variants that were first detected in South Africa and in Brazil also look more contagious, experts say.
The data so far indicate that current vaccines still need to protect against these variants, but there are concerns that their effectiveness may be slightly reduced. There is evidence that some antibody treatments may be less effective against certain variants.
There are ways to tailor vaccines and treatments to maintain their effectiveness, said Dr. Anthony Fauci, the leading American expert in infectious diseases, said.
The emergence of variants is associated with continuous increases, as infectious viruses give the chance to mutate and spread. This is another reason why experts emphasize the importance of wearing a mask and social distance.
“The fewer people carry the virus, the less opportunities it has to mutate,” Jones said.
Here’s what the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention says about the three most relevant variants:
- In the United Kingdom (UK) a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 (known as 20I / 501Y.V1, VOC 202012/01 or B.1.1.7) has emerged with a large number of mutations. This variant has since been detected in numerous countries around the world, including the United States (USA). In January 2021, UK scientists reported evidence[1] indicating that the B.1.1.7 variant may be associated with an increased risk of death compared to other variants. More studies are needed to confirm this finding. This variant was reported in the US at the end of December 2020.
- In South Africa, another variant of SARS-CoV-2 (known as 20H / 501Y.V2 or B.1.351) originated independently of B.1.1.7. This variant shares some mutations with B.1.1.7. Cases attributed to this variant have been detected in several countries outside South Africa. This variant was reported in the US at the end of January 2021.
- In Brazil, a variant of SARS-CoV-2 (known as P.1) has emerged that was first identified in four travelers from Brazil, who were tested during the routine investigation at Haneda Airport outside Tokyo, Japan. . This variant has 17 unique mutations, including three in the receptor binding domain of the vein protein. This variant was detected in the USA at the end of January 2021.