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The highly contagious strain of COVID-19 originating in the United Kingdom is expected to become the dominant strain in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
As the Washington post reports, the CDC released a forecast last month predicting that the variant would become the main strain in March. Researchers estimate the mutation is about 50% more transmissible than the common COVID strain.
The variant is not known to cause more serious illness, but an increase in the spread of COVID logically leads to more cases and therefore more deaths in the ongoing pandemic. This data is now supported by a new study from researchers that serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of getting vaccines out quickly.
“Our study shows that the United States is on a similar trajectory to other countries where B.1.1.7 has rapidly become the dominant variant of SARS-CoV-2, requiring immediate and decisive action to minimize morbidity and mortality from covid-19, ”study authors of the new study published on the MedRxiv pre-print server wrote.
In light of this information, the CDC is not suggesting new restrictive measures, but encourages people to continue to wear masks, stay home as much as possible, get tested, and socially estranged.
“The increased transmission of SARS-CoV-2 could threaten depleted health care resources, require prolonged and more rigorous implementation of public health strategies and increase the percentage of population immunity needed for it. pandemic control, ”the CDC wrote. “Taking steps to reduce transmission now can reduce the potential impact of B.1.1.7 and leave a critical time to increase immunization coverage.”
There is also a question about how mutations affect the effectiveness of vaccines. Moderna and Pfizer are already creating boosters to help combat new strains.
Other variants, including one from Brazil and two from South Africa, are also of concern for their potential to improve transmission of COVID-19. But the main focus has been on the British strain known as B.1.1.7.
“He’s here, he’s deeply rooted in this country, and he’s on his way to becoming the dominant lineage very quickly,” said study co-author Michael Worobey, evolutionary biologist at the University of Arizona. .
The CDC predicts that if the United States manages to ramp up vaccinations, new infections are expected to decline over the next few months.
“There is cause for concern. We’re not out of the woods yet with this pandemic, ”said Jay C. Butler, CDC deputy director for infectious diseases last month. “We have to keep moving forward.”
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