The British COVID-19 variant has a significantly higher mortality rate, the study finds

LONDON (Reuters) – An extremely contagious variant of COVID-19 that has spread around the world since it was first discovered in Britain at the end of last year is between 30% and 100% more deadly than previous dominant variants, researchers Said Wednesday.

In a study comparing mortality rates among people in Britain infected with the new SARS-CoV-2 variant – known as B.1.1.7 – with those infected with other variants of the COVID-19 virus, scientists said the new variant’s mortality rate was “significantly higher”.

The B.1.1.7 variant was first detected in Britain in September 2020 and has since been found in more than 100 other countries.

It has 23 mutations in its genetic code – a relatively high number – and some have spread it much more easily. Scientists say it is about 40-70% more transmissible than previous dominant variants that were in circulation.

In the British study, published in the British Medical Journal on Wednesday, infection with the new variant resulted in 227 deaths in a sample of 54,906 COVID-19 patients, compared with 141 among the same number of patients infected with other variants is.

“Together with the ability to spread rapidly, it makes B.1.1.7 a threat that needs to be taken seriously,” said Robert Challen, a researcher at Exeter University who led the research.

Independent experts said that the findings of this study contribute to previous preliminary evidence linking the infection with the B.1.1.7 virus variant with an increased risk of dying from COVID-19.

Initial findings from the study were presented to the UK government earlier this year, along with other research, by experts on the New and Emerging Advisory Group on Respiratory Virus Threats, or NERVTAG.

Lawrence Young, a virologist and professor of molecular oncology at Warwick University, said the exact mechanisms behind the higher mortality rate of the B.1.1.7 variant are not yet clear, but ‘may be related to higher levels of virus replication as well as increased portability ”.

He warned that the British variant was likely to fuel a recent increase in infections in Europe.