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There are many variants of the coronavirus circulating around the world, but health experts are primarily concerned with the emergence of three variants that were first detected in the UK, South Africa and Brazil. They seem to spread more easily and research is being done to see if they cause more serious illness.
When a virus infects people, it can mutate by copying itself. Certain mutations can harm a virus and cause it to die. Others may offer a benefit and help it spread.
“Not all mutations are created equal,” said Mary Petrone, who studies infectious diseases at Yale University. “The virus is going to get lucky once in a while.”
Monitoring for variants is important because they could make vaccines and treatments less effective or change the way they infect people.
A mutation at the start of the pandemic fueled the spread of the virus around the world, but there has been no noticeable change since – until recently, the Ohio State University biologist said , Daniel Jones.
One of the three main variants that experts are watching was discovered in the UK late last year and has been detected in dozens of countries since. Health officials initially said it did not appear to make the disease worse, but some more recent information suggests it might – it remains unknown at this time. It seems to spread more easily, which could lead to more hospitalizations and deaths.
The variant could become dominant in the United States by March, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Other variants first detected in South Africa and Brazil also appear to be more contagious, experts say.
Data to date suggests that current vaccines should still protect against these variants, although their effectiveness may be slightly diminished. There is some evidence that some antibody treatments may be less effective against certain variants.
There are ways to adjust vaccines and treatments to maintain their effectiveness, said Dr.Anthony Fauci, America’s leading infectious disease specialist.
The emergence of variants is linked to continued flare-ups, as infections give viruses the opportunity to mutate and spread. This is another reason why experts stress the importance of wearing a mask and social distancing.
“The less humans there are with the virus, the less chance it has to mutate,” Jones said.
Here’s what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says about the three most concerning variants:
- In the United Kingdom (UK), a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 (known as 20I / 501Y.V1, VOC 202012/01 or B.1.1.7) has emerged with a large number of mutations . This variant has since been detected in many countries around the world, including the United States (US). In January 2021, British scientists reported evidence[1] This suggests that variant B.1.1.7 may be associated with an increased risk of death compared to other variants. Further studies are needed to confirm this finding. This variant was reported in the United States in late December 2020.
- In South Africa, another variant of SARS-CoV-2 (known as 20H / 501Y.V2 or B.1.351) has emerged independently of B.1.1.7. This variant shares some mutations with B.1.1.7. Cases attributed to this variant have been detected in several countries outside South Africa. This variant was reported in the United States in late January 2021.
- In Brazil, a variant of SARS-CoV-2 (known as P.1) emerged which was first identified in four travelers from Brazil, who were tested during routine screening at Haneda Airport, near Tokyo, Japan. This variant has 17 unique mutations, three of which are in the spike protein receptor binding domain. This variant was detected in the United States at the end of January 2021.
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