COVID-19 variants are spreading around the world, which led countries like New Zealand to close their borders to prevent community transmission. This COVID-19 variant includes the B.1.1.7 that was first detected in the United Kingdom, while another COVID-19 variant is also detected in South Africa and Brazil.
Many fear that this might make the newly developed vaccines obsolete, but experts said that genetic mutations in the viruses like the SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, occur all the time. Still, most of these do not significantly affect the transmission rate or the severity of the infection.
However, mutations in the virus leave a signature in its genetic code, which allows for tracing the origin of the virus's transmission. The WHO said that variants, like B.1.1.7, are more transmissible than the original variant that means it is easily spread among individuals.
Fortunately, they do not cause a more severe form of the illness or cause higher fatality rates than the original strain. But it is still dangerous as it spreads quickly that could result in more hospitalizations.
Why COVID-19 Variants that Spread More Quickly Are More Dangerous?
According to ZME Science, the R number of people infected with COVID-19 transmitted the virus to others is between 40% to 70% higher than the B.1.1.7 variant. The study's findings suggest that the COVID-19 variant like B.1.17 has a higher transmission rate that is more dangerous than a higher fatality rate.
A 50% increase in cases due to a higher transmissibility rate could cause 25 times more cases in a couple of months if left unchecked, compared to a 50% increase in the fatality rates that cause 50% more deaths. Therefore, higher transmissibility rates could cause more deaths at the original mortality rate.
Researchers in the UK found out that a person with a COVID-19 variant with a higher transmissible rate can infect 56% more people on average than the people infected with the original variant.
Additionally, data from contact tracing revealed that close contacts of the person infected with the new variant are more likely to test positive. Also, people infected with the new variant carry more of the virus, supporting the claim of 40%-70% transmissibility of the new variant.
Variants from South Africa and Brazil have similar mutations with that of the variant in the UK, although further research is recommended as there are lesser available data about them.
How to Spread the Further Spread of the New Variants of COVID-19?
The original variant of COVID-19 wreaked havoc in 2020, and the new variants of the virus have the same transmission mode. They are transmitted via droplets between people, especially in closed and crowded places.
That means the available vaccines and health protocols in place still work on the new variants. These include testing, contact tracing, wearing of face masks, physical distancing, and proper handwashing.
Like the original strain, the only way to control an outbreak is by bringing down the R number under 1 and using more tools to achieve this.
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