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A highly infectious coronavirus variant that was first detected in the UK is now spreading rapidly in the US. The variant, B.1.1.7, has been detected in at least 34 states so far and is expected to continue to circulate.
A new pre-print study estimates that cases of the variant are doubling in the United States every nine days, with an increased transmission rate of up to 45%. “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,” the authors wrote. researchers.
In a January report, researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned that B.1.1.7 could become the dominant strain of SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus responsible for COVID-19, by now March. Another report published by the UK Government’s Scientific Advisory Group found that there is a “realistic possibility” that a B.1.1.7 infection “is associated with an increased risk of death” compared to other strains of the disease. virus.
The results are “concerning,” said Anthony Fauci, MD, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, in a Jan. 35. interview sure Today. “The data is not officially released, but looking at the preliminary data that the British scientists have analyzed, I am quite convinced that there is an increase in the severity of the actual infection, which we really need to keep in mind. eye. ”
Here’s what experts know so far about the B.1.1.7 variant of the coronavirus, and what you can do to protect yourself.
What is B.1.1.7 and where does it come from?
Coronavirus variants, like B.1.1.7, began to emerge after the original dominant strain of SARS-CoV-2 began to mutate. It is important to remember that all viruses mutate. They aren’t always a cause for concern, but others are worth watching out for when they start to spread quickly.
“When SARS-CoV-2 replicates, mistakes are made – not infrequently,” said Stanley H. Weiss, MD, professor at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and in the Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology at Rutgers School. of Public Health. Prevention.com. “Most of them are faulty, don’t replicate very well, don’t continue, and don’t matter. Sometimes the wrong set of combinations and mutations can happen. “
B.1.1.7 is notable for its number of mutations – six key mutations, to be exact – including some that directly involve the spike protein, which has generated “great interest,” says Dr. Weiss, as it s is the element of the coronavirus that locks onto human cells.
The CDC reports that B.1.1.7 first appeared in the UK in September 2020 and is associated with “more efficient and faster transmission”. It has now been detected in several countries, including the United States and Canada.
How many states have confirmed B.1.1.7 infections?
Variant B.1.1.7 was first identified in the United States in December. A Colorado man in his 20s with no reported travel history has tested positive and has recovered in isolation.
Since then, at the time of publication, nearly 1,000 B.1.1.7 infections have been identified in 34 states, according to CDC data. Florida and California, in particular, have significantly higher numbers of B.1.1.7 cases. This number is expected to increase across the country in the coming months.
Does variant B.1.1.7 cause different symptoms of COVID-19?
There are a lot of scientists not sure about this variant, but “the symptoms don’t seem to be any different at this point,” says Prathit Kulkarni, MD, assistant professor of infectious disease medicine at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.
As a result, there is “no way” for you to know if your symptoms could be due to the original strain of SARS-CoV-2 or B.1.1.7, says Thomas Russo, MD, professor and chief of diseases. infectious diseases at the University of Buffalo in New York. “Only tests will tell if you have this variant,” he says.
This means that you should always be aware of the most common signs of COVID-19: fever, chills, shortness of breath, fatigue, muscle aches or pains, headaches, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, or diarrhea.
Is B.1.1.7 really much more contagious?
Based on the data we have so far, yes. In fact, a pre-printed study from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine estimates that the B.1.1.7 variant is 56% more contagious than the original strain of SARS-CoV-2. Another study, conducted by researchers at Imperial College London, found that viral reproduction of B.1.1.7 – the average number of people to whom an infected person transmits the virus – was 1.45. The number before the emergence of the variant was 0.92.
B.1.1.7 was first detected in the UK in September, but the variant accounted for a quarter of cases in London in November, according to the BBC. As of the week of December 9, he was responsible for 60% of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in London. “There is emerging data which suggests that the new variant is about 50 to 60% more contagious than the strain previously most widely in circulation,” says Dr. Kulkarni.
There is also data to suggest that B.1.1.7 may be more likely to infect children, scientists from the UK’s Advisory Group on New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats said in mid-December. “We haven’t established any sort of causation about this, but we can see it in the data,” said Neil Ferguson, professor and infectious disease epidemiologist at Imperial College London, according to Reuters. We will need to collect more data to see how it performs in the future. “
Do the available COVID-19 vaccines have an effect against B.1.1.7?
Currently, the makers of the COVID-19 vaccines licensed in the United States – Moderna and Pfizer – have said their vaccines are up to 95% effective against B.1.1.7. Novavax, which is currently in phase 3 clinical trials in the United States, announced in late January that its vaccine was almost 86% effective against B.1.1.7.
What should you do to protect yourself from B.1.1.7?
In addition to B.1.1.7, other highly infectious variants – including those that emerged from Brazil and South Africa – have been detected in the United States. This shouldn’t panic you, but it should remind you that now is not the time to give up “following common sense precautions,” says infectious disease expert Amesh A. Adalja, MD, senior researcher at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security.
“The main public health recommendations also remain the same,” says Dr Kulkarni. Avoid large gatherings, social estrangement from those outside your household, wash your hands frequently, and wear a face mask that hugs your nose and mouth perfectly.
For added protection, especially in high-risk environments like on a crowded bus or in a line at a busy grocery store, experts (including Dr Fauci) say you can choose to wear a double mask (wear a mask or KN95 with a cloth mask on top, as long as it does not restrict breathing) or wear a face shield over your face mask.
Dr Russo insists that “it is likely that we will have additional variations of COVID-19 in the future” and that we will have to adjust our response accordingly – so when you are lucky enough to receive the vaccine, he is essential that you do this to protect yourself and those around you.
This article is correct at the time of publication. However, as the COVID-19 pandemic rapidly evolves and the scientific community’s understanding of the new coronavirus grows, some information may have changed since the last update. While we seek to keep all of our stories up to date, please visit the online resources provided by the CDC, WHO, and your local public health department to stay informed of the latest news. Always consult your doctor for professional medical advice.
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