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According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, the highly contagious strain of COVID-19 that originated in the UK is expected to become the dominant strain in the US.
Like the Washington Post reports, the CDC issued a forecast last month predicting that the variant would become the main strain in March. Researchers estimate that the mutation is about 50 percent more transmissible than the common COVID strain.
It is not known that the variant can cause a more serious disease, but an increase in COVID distribution logically leads to more cases and thus more deaths in the ongoing pandemic. These data are now supported by a new study by researchers that serves as another sobering reminder of the importance of vaccine distribution.
“Our study shows that the US is on a similar trajectory as in other countries where B.1.1.7 has quickly become the dominant SARS-CoV-2 variant, requiring immediate and decisive action to reduce covid-19 morbidity and mortality. to the minimum, “the authors of the new study posted on the preprint server wrote, MedRxiv wrote.
In light of this information, the CDC does not propose new restrictive measures, but encourages people to continue wearing masks, staying at home as much as possible, being tested and taking social distance.
“Increased SARS-CoV-2 transmission could threaten threatened health care resources, require extensive and stricter implementation of public health strategies, and increase the percentage of population immunity required for pandemic control,” the CDC wrote. “Taking measures to reduce transmission now can reduce the potential impact of B.1.1.7 and allow critical time to cover the vaccination.”
There is also a question about how mutations affect the effectiveness of vaccines. Moderna and Pfizer are already creating booster shots to combat new strains.
Other variants, including one from Brazil and two from South Africa, are also concerned about their potential to improve COVID-19 transmission. The main focus, however, was on the British tribe known as B.1.1.7.
“It’s here, it’s hooked deep into this country and it’s on its way to quickly becoming the dominant sex,” said co-author Michael Worobey, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Arizona.
The CDC predicts that if the US is able to increase vaccinations, new infections are expected to decrease in the next few months.
“There is reason to be concerned. We are not out of the woods yet on this pandemic, ‘said Jay C. Butler, the CDC’s deputy director for infectious diseases, last month. “We have to keep going.”
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