Coronavirus mutation spread across Europe: report

Researchers studying the coronavirus and its genetic mutations revealed in a study a genetic mutation that originated in farmworkers in Spain may have contributed to the second wave in Europe, a report said.

The Financial Times reported scientists are working to determine what role, if any, variant 20A.EU1 could play in disease's transmission or lethality. Scientists are looking at the mutation's possible effect on the virus' “spike protein." The variant was found in cases across the continent, including more than 80 percent in Spain, the paper reported.

The report pointed out the study has not been published in a peer-reviewed journal. Dr. Emma Hodcroft, an evolutionary geneticist at the University of Basel, said there is no evidence the mutation “increases transmission or impacts the clinical outcome,” according to the paper.

Infectious Disease Ping – Europe experiencing a possible mutant “Second Wave” of coronavirus (covid-19)
It should be noted that this original report, about covid mutations, has not yet been peer reviewed,
nor yet published in an approved medical journal.

“Researchers studying the coronavirus and its genetic mutations revealed in a study a genetic mutation that originated in farmworkers in Spain
may have contributed to the second wave in Europe, a report said.
Scientists are looking at the mutation's possible effect on the virus' “spike protein."
The variant was found in cases across the continent, including more than 80 percent in Spain, the paper reported. “
Dr. Emma Hodcroft, an evolutionary geneticist at the University of Basel, said
there is no evidence the mutation “increases transmission or impacts the clinical outcome,” according to the paper. “

(My comments) : Synopsis - In other words , the novel virus remains novel, and many other medical issues associated with the virus and its mutants still remain unknown.
Viruses , by their very nature have simplistic genetic design, and thus are frequently, and easily, subject to mutation variations.
Right now, Europe is subject to re-establish various closures and shut downs due to what they consider to be the “Second Wave”.
Hardest hit so far are human populations in Spain, Italy, and Germany; any anticipated shut downs will have severe financial impact

dynachrome :" Viruses mutate. How bad it affects people is unknown. "

Virus, by their very simplistic genetic design, are easily subject to mutation.
Generally, the mutations weaken the viral strength over time, as the virus doesn't want to directly kill the host.
Enter the issues of comorbitities and ancillary compromising medical issues, and then mortality increases.
Only recently, we have learned much about covid infection and its effect on heart tissue, lung function, etc., and its means of transmission.

aimhigh :" I’ve wondered it the Chinese engineered the virus to target non-Asian people. "

News source (Britain) May/27/20 :
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/27/call-for-coronavirus-uk-race-equality-strategy

“ Black people are more than four times more likely to die of Covid-19 than the white British population, according to analysis by the Office for National Statistics.

People of Bangladeshi and Pakistani, Indian, and mixed ethnicities were also found to have raised mortality risk relative to white people.”

”A Public Health England (PHE) review into how different factors – including ethnicity, gender and obesity – can affect people’s health outcomes from coronavirus ..
But the signatories to the demand for a race equality strategy say that a wider-ranging review is needed in order to “build something positive
and long-lasting from this deadly Covid-19 crisis” amid fears of a deep recession. “

“The (British) government’s race disparity unit, which is a world first for publishing data by ethnicity, also publishes data by age, gender and geography wherever possible. It continues to work across departments and their agencies to identify and address adverse variances in outcomes where they are found.

ALSO (USA - although dated 4/09/20, early in the pandemic ) :
http://www.sciencenews.org/article/coronavirus-why-african-americans-vulnerable-covid-19-health-race - by Sujata Gupta

The data are still piecemeal, with only some states and counties breaking down COVID-19 cases and outcomes by race.
But even without nationwide data, the numbers are stark.
Where race data are known — for only 3,300 of 13,000 COVID-19 deaths — African-Americans account for 42 percent of the deaths, the Associated Press reported April 9.
Those data also suggest the disparity could be highest in the South.
For instance, in both Louisiana and Mississippi, African-Americans account for over 65 percent of known COVID-19 deaths.

Other regions are seeing disparities as well.
For instance, in Illinois, where the bulk of infections are in the Chicago area,
28 percent of the 16,422 confirmed cases as of April 9 were African-Americans, but African-Americans accounted for nearly 43 percent of the state’s 528 deaths.

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