Posted on 02/16/2021 9:24:32 AM PST by SeekAndFind
Scientists have found seven separate but similar variants of the coronavirus that have emerged within the United States and appear share a similar genetic mutation to more contagious U.K. and South African types, raising concerns that the U.S. may have to deal with multiple variants of the virus that likely spread more easily.
A preprint study released on Sunday, found that the seven variants—all of which evolved independently—have been spotted in several states.
It is not yet clear if their mutations—which are similar to the more contagious foreign variants—make either of the seven types more contagious, but scientists suspect this is likely the case.
One of the variants, Q677P, was first detected in the U.S. on October 23, yet it accounted for 27.8% cases in Louisiana between December 1 and January 19.
It is, however, unclear if increased presence of the variants was due to its higher transmissibility or if it was aided by holiday travel or other superspreader events.
“There’s clearly something going on with this mutation. I think there’s a clear signature of an evolutionary benefit,” Jeremy Kamil, a virologist at Louisiana State University and one of the study’s co-author told the New York Times.
As the U.S. witnesses a sustained decline in Covid-19 cases, the more contagious U.K. and South African variants remain the biggest concern. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the country’s top infectious disease official, told the New York Times Saturday that the variants were the “big wild card” and warned if people failed to adhere to public health measures, those variants could “take off on us.”
(Excerpt) Read more at forbes.com ...
“It’s not what you don’t know that will hurt you, it’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so.”
Commonly attributed to Mark Twain (as is just about every good line), but Josh Billings was probably the first to publish something similar. There are lots of versions out there.
I, too, am sick to death of these fools, who know so much they won’t bother to learn a thing.
well crap, your first 2 shots are worthless, expect 14 more injections of gates wonder juice at 2 for each variant. /sarc off
you’ve had at least 4 running today...
FYI. There are two Canadian studies that have been published in the New England Journal of medicine and seem rather conclusive. The first shot of the Pfizer vaccine is proven to have 92.6 % effectiveness against COVID. In the study, they are indicating that the second dose can possibly be delayed longer than the twenty one days. They are just not sure how long the immunity will be with only one dose.
Maybe the press could ask Biden if mutations this fast are normal... you know - after they ask him his favorite candy and ice cream...
Or
Why hasn’t China been asked to apologize for killing millions of people the world over...
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