More contagious? Here’s what you need to know about the virus that is mutating in California right now:Lost Coast Outpost

###

Public health officials have even more disturbing news as California continues to ride the worst wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Four new, potentially more infectious, coronavirus variants of interest have been detected in California.

The first new strains detected in the United Kingdom were also found in Colorado and Florida. 33 other countries..

Last week, San Diego County reported that it had identified a new variant called B.1.1.7 in a 30-year-old man who had never traveled.Governor Gavin Newsom Announces Discovery At a live streaming event With Dr. Anthony Fauci, the main national voice of the pandemic.On weekends, San Diego County health officials Reported 3 additional cases..

Fouch said the news was expected as overseas travel was underway and the virus was generally mutated. “RNA viruses, they make a living from mutations,” he said. “The more you duplicate, the more you mutate.”

However, the lack of travel history in the San Diego case is an indicator of the circulation of new forms of the virus among the communities, health officials there said.

“The really important thing is that detecting this strain here doesn’t really change what we have to do, other than needing to make it better.” Dr. Christian AndersenInfectious disease and genomics experts at Scripps Research in San Diego said at a press conference. This includes wearing a mask and maintaining social distance.

Here’s what Californians need to know about the new coronavirus strain:

How was it discovered?

New virus variants were first reported British Public Health Agency Following the surge in incidents in the southeastern part of the country. The first two samples were found in September in Kent and London.

Mutations in the virus are common, but this particular strain stands out because it causes more genetic alterations than usual. According to researchers..

What are the concerns of this coronavirus mutant?

Public health officials say the new strain appears to be more susceptible to infection than the standard form of the virus. This means that exposed people are more likely to get infected.

According to health authorities In england, Evidence indicates that the infection is spreading more rapidly in the geographic area where this variant was found. the study From Mathematical Modeling Center for Infectious Diseases In London, this particular strain has been shown to be 56% more contagious. This study is still being peer reviewed.

Dr. Mark Garry, California’s Secretary of Health, explained at a recent press conference: “In order for COVID to invade human cells, it must bind to a receptor, a type of front door to human cells,” he said. “And the new mutated COVID virus seems to be a little stronger, a little easier to bind, and more likely to invade human cells than the current COVID virus.”

It remains unclear how this variant of the virus contributed to the current surge in California. Officials say the prevalence here is likely to be still low. December 21, Ghaly said last month California was looking for mutations and checking thousands of specimens daily.

“We are worried because of the unknown,” Ghaly said. “I’m worried that we don’t know how this will affect large-scale efforts to contain and mitigate existing viruses.”

What is California doing accordingly?

The California Public Health Service said healthcare providers are collecting specimens for gene sequencing and the state is analyzing samples suspected of being mutants.

“When a mutation or mutation is found, that information is used to inform public health decisions and important information is shared with the public,” the agency said in an email.

How popular are the new stocks?

After the new variant Detected In the UK, some 40 countries Travel from the UK is restricted.Then the variant is reported in France, Japan, Spain, Sweden And Canada Among other countries.

The first known US case, Colorado National Guard in his 20s, Reported December 30th.

Two variations According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, those that share some mutations with UK mutants have also been reported in South Africa and Nigeria.

“We know there are many more,” said Andersen, an infectious disease expert in San Diego. “The prevalence is relatively low so far.”

Does it make me more ill?

Currently, there is no evidence that this new COVID mutant will show higher mortality or cause more serious illness than the currently predominant strains. According to the CDC..Recently British government survey There was no statistically significant difference in the severity of illness, mortality, or reinfection when patients infected with the new mutant were compared to patients with the predominant strain. But scientists around the world are still studying British variants, and more answers may come soon.

Will currently licensed vaccines protect against this new strain?

Scientists believe they will. Fouch told Newsom last week that the variant “does not seem to circumvent the protection provided by the antibodies induced by it.” vaccine.. But scientists Under test A variant of the currently licensed vaccine produced by Pfizer and Moderna.

AstraZeneca’s CEO, who is developing another COVID-19 vaccine candidate, told The London Times that the company’s scientists believe the vaccine protects it from new variants.But some scientists I believe it is possible British variants, or future variants, may prove to be more difficult for vaccines to overcome.

###

The coverage, translation and distribution of CalMatters COVID-19 is supported by generous grants from the California Foundation’s Blue Shield, California Wellness Foundation, and California Healthcare Foundation.

CALmatters.org A non-profit, non-partisan media venture that explains California’s policies and politics.