LONDON (Reuters) – An extremely contagious variant of COVID-19 that has spread around the world since it was discovered in Britain late last year is between 30% and 100% more deadly than previous strains, researchers said on 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 strains, scientists said the new variant ‘significantly higher’ mortality rate.
The B.1.1.7 variant was first detected in Britain in September 2020 and has since been found in more than 100 countries.
It has 23 mutations in its genetic code – a relatively large number of changes – and some of these have enabled it to spread much more. British scientists say it is about 40% -70% more transmissible than previously dominant coronavirus variants.
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.
Reporting by Kate Kelland; Edited by Pravin Char