New Covid variant found in UK has concerning mutations - expert

[Mr. Sparkle]

Source: BBC

The discovery of a new Covid-19 variant in the UK, which was first identified in India, features two mutations that could be a cause for concern, an expert has said. Public Health England has reported that 73 cases of the B.1.617 variant have been confirmed in England, as well as four cases in Scotland.

The new variant has been classified as a Variant Under Investigation by PHE. Prof Paul Hunter, a professor in medicine at the University of East Anglia, says the variant features two "escape mutations" - E484Q and L452R - that "are causing people to be concerned". He adds: "There's laboratory evidence that both of these are escape mutations.

"Basically, applying what we know about other human coronaviruses would suggest that this is going to be even less controlled by vaccine. "But we don't know that for certain at the moment."

Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/live/uk-56769560?ns_mchannel=social&ns_source=twitter&ns_campaign=bbc_live&ns_linkname=607954b90b5e0102e3fc5866%26New%20Covid%20variant%20found%20in%20UK%20has%20concerning%20mutations%20-%20expert%262021-04-16T09%3A18%3A14.5

[sinkingfeeling]

1. Ugh.

[bucolic_frolic]

2. If one of the variants would only infect people filled with hatred

I'd even say it was God's plan.

So far, not happening.

God? You in?

[IronLionZion]

6. US hotspots are in red Trump counties

If you look at the covid map next to an election map, you can see who is spreading the virus around as a percentage of population.

[Evolve Dammit]

9. I hope the class action lawsuit against the orange one gets traction. He is responsible for this. nt

[zanana1]

3. I wonder if we'll ever be free of this virus.

It seems like it wants to stay.

[LymphocyteLover]

8. not as long as we have fucking Republicans

[Roland99]

4. More about "escape mutations"

‘Escape Mutations’ May Drive New COVID Resurgence
webmd

When a person makes antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, either because they’ve been vaccinated or have already caught the virus, the body makes an army of these soldiers. After the invader is driven off, some of these antibodies, and the body’s memory of how to make them, remain so they can quickly be re-created if they are ever needed again.

E484K is called an escape mutation because it helps the virus escape this standing army. With this mutation, the virus can slip past our immune defenses and make us sick.

Escape mutations arise as pressure is put on the virus to survive. John Moore and others think pressure that allows mutations to develop comes from an incomplete immune response -- something that might happen in a person who has a compromised immune system and struggles for months to shake a COVID infection.

Another scenario that could drive escape mutations is incomplete protection from a vaccine, which could happen in the interval between the first and second doses.

“The period between the two is a period where you have weak antibodies and can create escape mutants,” says John Moore. The U.K. has given public guidance that it’s OK to wait several months between doses of the vaccine, “and that troubles us because it’s a breeding ground for escaped mutants.”

When a mutation develops independently in several versions of the virus over time, that’s called convergent evolution, and it’s a sign that the change confers an important advantage, says Pavitra Roychoudhury, PhD, a research associate in the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle.

[wnylib]

11. In an effort to contain spread, the UK was

vaccinating larger numbers of people with one dose of the RNA vaccines instead of smaller numbers getting both doses. They were trying to spread their supply further and faster since one shot does provide some protection.

Looks like this variant might be a consequence of that policy.

[róisín_dubh]

17. Actually, it's probably more related to the Tories unwillingness...

to put India on the friggin red list. This is madness (I live in the UK). BoZo needs to make sure he can get his trade deal.

[wnylib]

19. Conservatives have no conscience or

sense of responsibility toward others. As long as they feel safe and comfortable, they don't give a damn about others. It's an attitude that my great aunt used to call, "I've got mine and devil take the hindmost."'

[róisín_dubh]

22. Yup.

Tories are just awful.

[NH Ethylene]

14. I wonder if the use of a less effective vaccine, like J & J would also contribute.

Since a certain percentage of people can still get Covid with this vaccine, but 'stay out of the hospital', then the virus can continue to proliferate and mutate even among many who are vaccinated.

The UK's vaccine, Astro Zenica, is similar, shown to be 70 per cent effective against symptomatic COVID-19.

[moonscape]

18. Effectiveness numbers for J&J took in to

account some variants as I understand it, as that data came after that for the mRNA ones which weren’t so affected by variants.

[paleotn]

5. Covid-19 evolution will not be stopped....

unless humans...individuals and governments...choose to stop it. The solutions aren't hard. The will to implement the solutions is the problem. And the problem isn't just increased communicability or evading current vaccines. Covid-19 isn't like Ebola, where the only place lethality can go is down. For Ebola to successfully replicate and spread in human populations, it has to become less lethal. Killing the host too quickly is an evolutionary dead end. Covid-19, at less than 1% lethality has a whole lot of room to play with in that regard and still successfully replicate and spread. THAT'S what scares the shit out of me.

[LymphocyteLover]

7. Yes, totally agree

[Evolve Dammit]

10. good point

[wnylib]

12. And the longer it spreads, the more chance

Last edited Fri Apr 16, 2021, 12:07 PM - Edit history (1)

of even more contageous and deadlier variants to develop.

I don't think there has been much publicity about this consequence of viral spread. I think countries should mount public awareness campaigns to elicit cooperation from their citizens. Public service announcements on TV and online about viral spread and mutations. Signs in public places.

[paleotn]

13. Exactly! And that needs to be shouted from the rooftops.

Viruses aren't static. People who think this is as bad as it will ever get are ignorant of the danger or fooling themselves. This one has a lot of room to manuver and still replicate and spread effectively. Including lethality. And every time someone refuses to mask up, social distance or open their state too early are making that possible. That's what keeps Fauci and others awake at night.

[wnylib]

16. I am one of the others, besides Fauci,

who worries a lot about this. Our vaccines will not mean much if this virus gets more deadly.

I fear that we are in the calm before a storm. If it gets so widespread and deadly that our supply chains fail, all hell will break loose.

[DallasNE]

15. Need To Get To Herd Immunity

That means continuing to wear masks and socially distance as well as getting as many people as possible vaccinated as quickly as possible. Because of a rush to reopen the economy we are shooting ourselves in the foot, repeatedly. The slower we get there the more time for even more mutants to emerge. White males are especially problematic in this regard because of anti-vaxers.

[Quakerfriend]

20. Yes, we must do all of this...

Dr. Larry Brilliant who worked to eradicate smallpox believes that there can be no herd immunity with COVID. When I saw him speak about this my heart sank a bit.

His life story is amazing:
https://www.wpr.org/hippie-doctor-who-helped-eradicate-smallpox

[Ford_Prefect]

21. Oy Vey!

[joetheman]

23. I don't believe people understand that not wearing a mask and not social distancing

give the virus more opportunity to mutate. Every host and every new host (people who get infected) give a new opportunity for the virus to live and mutate even if they do not become ill.