Alabama father of two who contracted the British COVID-19 variant dies at 35

Alabama father of two who contracted the British COVID-19 variant dies at 35

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A family in Jefferson County, Alabama, is in mourning after a father of two died at the British COVID-19 variant, just 35 years old.

Alfonzia Jackson Jr. (35) was diagnosed with the B.1.1.7 variant earlier last week while struggling to live in the UAB hospital.

His wife, Ashley Jackson, went to Facebook around 9pm on Tuesday night to announce that Alfonzia had passed away.

“Lord this day has been difficult,” Ashley posted on Facebook. “I do not want to wish it on anyone when I say goodbye to my amazing husband.”

She continues: ‘Our girls are really going to miss you, you were a wonderful father and I will keep your memory alive through them and they will always remember you.

Alfonzia Jackson Jr., husband to Ashley and father of two daughters, passed away Tuesday night

Alfonzia Jackson Jr., husband to Ashley and father of two daughters, passed away Tuesday night

Jackson had the British COVID-19 variant

He was on a ventilator in the days before his death

Jackson had the British COVID-19 variant and was on a fan in the days before his death

“You are now our guardian angel and you are at peace, rest on my wonderful husband until we meet again.”

She also posted an emotional tribute with pictures and videos of the family, set on I Will Miss You.

WBRC previously reported on Alfonzia Jackson Jr., who according to Ashley was admitted to the hospital with COVID symptoms and shortness of breath, although she has no idea how he would contract the virus.

“My husband just went to work and home,” Ashley Jackson said. ‘Here and there filling station. Not something like going out and having a good time, just a hard working man. ‘

Rapid tests showed a negative diagnosis for COVID-19, but after surgery to relieve heart failure, a PCR test showed that Alfonzia did have COVID-19.

Ashley Jackson announced Alfonzia's death on Facebook with an emotional tribute

Ashley Jackson announced Alfonzia’s death on Facebook with an emotional tribute

Alfonzia Jackson Jr. was admitted to hospital on January 22 with COVID symptoms

Alfonzia Jackson Jr. was admitted to hospital on January 22 with COVID symptoms

The Jefferson County Department of Health later called Ashley to tell her that Alfonzia had the British variant.

Alfonzia was placed on a ventilator in the days before his death.

A GoFundMe page, originally set up to cover medical expenses, has so far raised more than $ 131,000 for the family.

Mutations of COVID-19 have always been possible, as viruses are often characterized by their ability to alter and adapt.

However, mutated tribes from the United Kingdom, South Africa and Brazil have recently come into focus, with the British tribe becoming the most common mutation in the United States.

The latest from the CDC reports 541 cases of the British mutation in the United States in 33 different states.

Meanwhile, only five cases of the other major mutations combined so far have been reported.

It was initially believed that the British variant was only more contagious, although British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has since said it could also be more deadly.

According to his wife, it is unclear how the father of two was able to catch the virus.

According to his wife, it is unclear how the father of two was able to catch the virus.

A GoFundMe initially set aside for medical expenses raised more than $ 131,000 for the family

A GoFundMe initially set aside for medical expenses raised more than $ 131,000 for the family

The two vaccines currently available in the United States are thought to be effective against the variants, although a boost uptake is needed.

Last week, a person in New Jersey died of the British variant, which is believed to be the first death of the tribe in the United States.

The person who died in New Jersey has not had any recent international travel.

Alabama has seen only three confirmed cases of the British variant, although the deficiencies in the order of the virus across the country leave the possibility that the strain is much more prevalent than reported.

The death toll from COVID-19 approaches 450,000 in the United States

The death toll from COVID-19 approaches 450,000 in the United States

The tragedy in the state comes on the heels of a positive development in the fight against COVID-19.

The latest data from Johns Hopkins University showed a 44 percent decrease in coronavirus cases from three weeks ago over a seven-day period.

As vaccination rates in the United States remain relatively low, this is unlikely to be a factor in declining numbers, making the outlook even more rosy.

Instead, the decrease can be attributed to a decrease in travel since the end of the holiday season.

It could also be due to a lower number of cases than those who contracted the virus, with antibodies hopefully protecting the people.

In total, there were more than 26 million COVID-19 cases in the United States, with the death toll rapidly approaching 450,000.

Among the variants in the United States, the tribe is the most dominant in the United Kingdom, with the spread to 33 states and so far it counts more than 500 cases

Among the variants in the United States, the tribe is the most dominant in the United Kingdom, with the spread to 33 states and so far it counts more than 500 cases

WHAT ARE THE ‘SUPER-COVID’ VARIANTS THAT ARE FROM THE WORLD?

UK’S ‘KENT’ VARIANT – B117

British health officials announced in December that a ‘variant of concern’ had arisen in Kent.

The variant is known among scientists as B117, a name derived from the location of its major mutations.

B117 appears to be more contagious than older ‘wild-type’ coronavirus variants.

According to most estimates, it is about 70% more contagious, but some studies suggest that it can be twice as contagious, while more moderate projections say that its transmissibility is only about 56% higher.

B117 quickly became predominant in the UK and is now responsible for at least 61% of cases there.

It has been detected in 60 countries, including the US, where at least 159 cases have been identified in 22 states.

Although the mutations appear to make the variant clearly more contagious, it did not alter the chance of severe COVID-19 or death.

But British health officials said on Friday it could be 30 to 40% more deadly, based on how many people infected with it die. The mortality rate for people hospitalized in the UK with B117 does not look different from that of older variants.

After reviewing the UK data, Dr Anthony Fauci, the leading US expert in infectious diseases, said it could indeed be more deadly.

However, he and the British officials still say that other variants are more worrying because they can make vaccines less effective – which apparently is not the case with the British variant.

SOUTH AFRICAN VARIANT – B1351

A new variant was announced on December 18 in South Africa.

It shares a mutation with the British variant – at a place in its genome known as 501Y – but also has several other mutations.

The South African variant is estimated to be about 50 percent more contagious and is already dominant there.

It has spread to less than 20 countries, including the United Kingdom, which has at least 77 countries.

South Africa’s mutated variant has not yet been noticed in the USA, but many experts suspect that it is already here.

President Joe Biden is calling for a travel ban on people coming from South Africa in an attempt to stop the import of the new variant.

Dr Fauci says the South African variant is the most worrying because it can make vaccines less effective due to mutations that help it hide against antibodies developed after vaccination or a previous attack on COVID-19.

BRAZIL SE VARIANT – P1

The variant first attracted international attention when four travelers arrived in Tokyo from Manaus, Brazil, on January 2.

The variant has the same vein protein mutation as the highly transmissible versions found in Kent and South Africa – called N501Y – which better enables the acre to bind to receptors in the body.

Manaus, the largest city in the Amazon, was destroyed by COVID-19. The hospital’s oxygen is low and Brazilian officials have said it is in crisis.

The new variant is responsible for almost half of all cases there and is considered more contagious and may make the vaccines less effective.

The variant has been spotted in Japan, France and Germany. It has not yet been detected in the UK or US, but former FDA commissioner Dr Scott Gottlieb said he suspects it has already arrived.

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