The Coronavirus has changed since its first appearance in 2019. New variants have popped up since then and medical professionals expect more to occur over time. Some may disappear, but others can spread rapidly.
The B.1.1.7 variant (United Kingdom) was identified in the fall of 2020. The variant is known to spread more easily than others and by January 2021, experts reported that this variant could be linked to the increased number of deaths.
The B.1.351 variant (South Africa) was identified in October 2020. This variation is also known to share similar mutations with B.1.1.7.
The P.1 variant (Brazil) was identified in travelers from Brazil in January 2021. It contains a set of additional mutations that could affect its ability to be recognized by antibodies.
Generally, viruses are no strangers to mutating. A virus tends to mutate when there’s a change in its genetic sequence, thus creating new variants. This can lead to a change in the protein in the genetic code of the virus and can be harmful in many cases. If a virus has enough mutations to make it different, it’s considered a new train and will respond differently to vaccines.
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The variants appear to spread easily and more quickly than previous variants, thus leading to the steady rise of Covid-19 cases. Studies have suggested that Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech are effective against the new variants, while Johnson & Johnson and Oxford-AstraZeneca offer weaker protection or insufficient protection respectively.
An increase in the number of cases also puts more strain on healthcare resources and can lead to more hospitalizations.
Data suggests that the new variants are more transmissible, estimating around 30% and 80% more transmissible than the original Covid-19 strain.
The appearance of these new Covid-19 variants is not surprising as viruses, in general, are known to mutate quickly. When a virus enters the body, it can produce thousands of new virus particles. As a result, new mutations appear and spread rapidly. While these new variants aren’t unusual, they still pose a threat, especially to those who haven’t been vaccinated yet.
We can stay safe from the new Coronavirus variants in the same way we tried to keep ourselves safe from the first strain. Precautions that have been around since 2020 should still be followed – wearing masks, socially distancing and washing our hands are still important things to do in 2023. Stay at home and isolate yourself if you’re feeling ill so that you don’t potentially spread Covid-19 to others.
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