The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) warned on Friday that, by March 2021, the newer, more contagious ‘British strain’ of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 would be the dominant strain in the United States.
“A more transmissible variant of SARS-CoV-2, B.1.1.7, has been detected in ten U.S. states,” the report on Friday published comments on the variant, which was first reported in the United Kingdom in December 2020. notes that in the late fall of 2020, more virus variants that spread more efficiently were reported in several countries. “Modeling data indicates that B.1.1.7 has the potential to increase the US pandemic orbit in the coming months.”
Although there is currently ‘no known difference in clinical outcomes’ between people who become ill with different variants of the virus (eg people who become ill through the more transmissible variant do not become ill than any other patient) the virus that is more effective spread and affect more people is the stress it will place on our health infrastructure. As hospitals in various states across the country are already overwhelmed, a further increase in cases can only exacerbate existing problems at the front. The report notes that it is all the more important that communities continue to follow best practices and guidelines to reduce the risk of spread and give more time to administer vaccines.
‘Together, improved genomic surveillance combined with the continued adherence to effective public health measures, including vaccination, physical distance, the use of masks, hand hygiene, isolation and quarantine, are essential to the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus , to limit. causing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Strategic testing of asymptomatic individuals with a higher risk of infection, such as those exposed to SARS-CoV-2 or who regularly have unavoidable contact with the public, provides another opportunity to limit its ongoing spread. ” according to the CDC. “… These measures will be more effective if introduced sooner rather than later to delay the initial distribution of the B.1.1.7 variant. Efforts to prepare the health care system for further increases in cases are justified. Increased transmissibility also means that higher income than expected vaccination must be achieved to achieve the same level of disease control to protect the public compared to less transmissible variants. ”
What do we know about coronavirus variants?
A frustrating part of the new coronavirus throughout the pandemic was the rapidly emerging new information that appeared about it. After all, a new virus means that our experts have had less time to understand how it moves, develops and affects a human body.
The CDC notes that viruses are constantly changing through mutation, and that new variants of a virus are expected to emerge. Sometimes new variants emerge and disappear. Other times, new variants emerge and keep going. Several variants of the virus that causes COVID-19 have been documented in the United States and worldwide during this pandemic. ”
They note that the virus that causes COVID-19 comes from a ‘large family of viruses’ named after the crown-shaped nails on their surface. “Scientists are monitoring changes in the virus, including changes to the nails on the surface of the virus,” the agency said. “These studies, including genetic analyzes of the virus, help us understand how changes to the virus can affect how it spreads and what happens to people infected with it.”
There is still much we do not know about how the variants may affect the current treatments for COVID-19 and the vaccine, although many experts believe that the vaccines will remain effective.
“The variants do have changes in the vein protein, but not enough to make the vaccine non-protective,” Arnold Monto, acting chairman of the U.S. Advisory Committee on Vaccine and Related Biological Products, said on January 11. JAMA. “It looks like [current vaccines] should work, and we will know more definitely in the next few weeks. ”
Dr. @arnold_monto of @umichsph was chairman of the FDA’s VRBPAC meetings in December leading to EUA of the 2 # COVID-19 vaccines. He joins JAMA’s Q&A series to discuss experiences to date and what’s next. https://t.co/ZCy6HnbYXk
– JAMA (@JAMA_current) 11 January 2021
So far, there are a number of variants worldwide that are spreading worldwide faster (and more efficiently) than the original virus, although there is still no evidence that it leads to a more serious disease or a higher risk of death. on their own, according to the CDC:
B.1.1.7, which arose with an exceptionally large number of mutations in the United Kingdom. ‘This variant spreads easier and faster than other variants. Currently, there is no evidence that it causes serious illness or increased risk of death. This variant was first detected in September 2020 and is currently widespread in London and south-east England. It has since been detected in numerous countries around the world, including the United States and Canada. ”
1,351 emerged independently of the variant found in the United Kingdom in South Africa. ‘This variant, originally detected in early October, shares some mutations with the variant detected in the UK. There have been cases caused by this variant outside South Africa, but it has not been detected in the USA. ”
P.1 was found in Brazil by “four travelers from Brazil, who were tested during routine investigations at Haneda Airport outside Tokyo, Japan. This variant contains a set of additional mutations that can affect its ability to be recognized by antibodies. This variant has not been detected in the US. ”
Although vaccine efforts continue across the US, this is a good time to remind everyone that the pandemic is far from over and that the decisions we make in the coming months can absolutely protect ourselves, our families and save lives. .
This face mask gallery for kids is a great place to start buying!
