by Anita Osuri
Graphic of the UK coronavirus variant. Reprinted from BBC Science Focus at https://www.sciencefocus.com/news/covid-19-what-is-the-new-variant-of-coronavirus/
Current Knowledge as of February 17th
About a year after the first reported case of coronavirus, numerous variants of the virus have emerged. Although knowledge about these variants is constantly evolving, we currently know that some may lead to increased Covid-19 cases, while others may emerge and disappear [1].
Currently, a few notable variants have been spreading throughout the world. Despite mutating differently, they all share the D614G mutation, which may allow the virus to spread faster than the original coronavirus strand [2].
United Kingdom Variant The most notable variant is the United Kingdom variant, detected in the United States in late December. Some experts have mentioned that it spreads easier than the original coronavirus, and it may possibly be more deadly, although more studies are needed to confirm this [1].
South African Variant Another variant, originating from South Africa, was reported in the United States at the end of January 2021 [1]. It seems that it mutated independently of the United Kingdom variant, although it does share some similarities [2].
Brazilian Variant Interestingly, an additional variant from Brazil, identified in early January, contains additional mutations that could alter its interactions with antibodies [1]. The Brazilian strain is a focus for many vaccine makers, as this variant may be less vulnerable to antibodies from current Covid-19 vaccines [3].
However, so far the research regarding these variants is hopeful. The South African variant and United Kingdom variant were confirmed to be vulnerable to current Covid-19 vaccines, although more research is needed to confirm these early findings [1].
Goals for scientists in the near future include finding how widely the variants have spread, how the disease variants differ, and how variants will affect existing treatments [1].
Although this new information may be overwhelming, don’t fret! The CDC and other public health agencies are monitoring the situation and working on more effective responses [4]. Many sources warn that a repeat of the previous situation in the United States is not inevitable [5]. Hopefully, from our previous coronavirus ordeal, we have learned the importance of a structured global health system, a close sense of community, and proper preventative measures so that we are prepared for any possible future outbreaks.
Sources:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About Variants of the Virus that Causes COVID-19. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/transmission/variant.html.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-updates/variant-surveillance/variant-info.html.
Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2021, January 30). COVID-19 variants: What's the concern? Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/expert-answers/covid-variant/faq-20505779.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. How CDC is responding to SARS-CoV-2 variants globally. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-updates/variant-surveillance/global-variant-map.html.
Gumbrecht, J. (2021, February 17). New CDC reports warn variants could lead to rapid rise in Covid-19 cases. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/17/health/coronavirus-variants-spread-cdc-reports/index.html.