Posted on 12/21/2020 11:14:20 AM PST by SeekAndFind
Reports from Britain and South Africa of new coronavirus strains that seem to spread more easily are causing alarm, but virus experts say it's unclear if that's the case or whether they pose any concern for vaccines or cause more severe disease.
Viruses naturally evolve as they move through the population, some more than others. It's one reason we need a fresh flu shot each year.
New variants, or strains, of the virus that causes COVID-19 have been seen almost since it was first detected in China nearly a year ago.
On Saturday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced new restrictions because of the new strain. Several European Union countries and Canada were banning or limiting some flights from the U.K. to try to limit any spread.
Here's what is known about the situation.
What's concerning about the recent strain found in England? Health experts in the U.K. and U.S. said the strain seems to infect more easily than others, but there is no evidence yet it is more deadly.
Patrick Vallance, the British government's chief scientific adviser, said that the strain "moves fast and is becoming the dominant variant," causing over 60% of infections in London by December.
The strain is also concerning because it has so many mutations — nearly two dozen — and some are on the spiky protein that the virus uses to attach to and infect cells. That spike is what current vaccines target.
"I'm worried about this, for sure," but it's too soon to know how important it ultimately will prove to be, said Dr. Ravi Gupta, who studies viruses at the University of Cambridge in England. He and other researchers posted a report of it on a website scientists use to quickly share developments, but the paper has not been formally reviewed or published
(Excerpt) Read more at cbsnews.com ...
How do these new strains occur?
Viruses often acquire small changes of a letter or two in their genetic alphabet just through normal evolution. A slightly modified strain can become the most common one in a country or region just because that’s the strain that first took hold there or because “superspreader” events helped it become entrenched.
A bigger worry is when a virus mutates by changing the proteins on its surface to help it escape from drugs or the immune system.
“Emerging evidence” suggests that may be starting to happen with the new coronavirus, Trevor Bedford, a biologist and genetics expert at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, wrote on Twitter. “We’ve now seen the emergence and spread of several variants” that suggest this, and some show resistance to antibody treatments, he noted.
ONE IMPORTANT QUESTION:
Will people who had COVID-19 be able to catch the new one? Will it undermine vaccines?
“Probably not,” said Food and Drug Administration commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb.
“Unlikely,” Dr. Ravi Gupta, who studies viruses at the University of Cambridge in England, agreed.
Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams said on “Face the Nation” that officials “have no indications that it is going to hurt our ability to continue vaccinating people or that it is any more dangerous or deadly than the strains that are currently out there and that we know about.”
The deep state is thinking ahead. They are concerned whether Trump will re-vote the contested states. Therefore, have a severe lock down to prevent it taking place.
A scientist in Britain or Germany said it was way to fast to get the data together to show a 70% increase.
Godzira! Godzira!
Is this the Danish Minks mutant strain, or the NY mutant strain, the Indian mutant strain from June, or the one that already supposedly spread in 2019 in Europe?
Are you afraid yet?!
Ho, ho, ho, Merry Lockdown!
No and that’s the point.
This is on purpose, yet idiots in power either are trying to suppress it out of fear of china or trying to take advantage of it for personal gain.
What we know is that its not a knew strain. It has already existed in Austria, Germany and the US. It is no more dangerous. And its likely to be the strain that is symptomatic in every country while Asymptomatic strains also exist. I think this is just a way to stop the vaccine from becoming too good news.
What we know! Hahahaha! What we know! Hahahahahahahaaaaaaa.
This article only needs on word: nothing. The only thing we know is absolutely nothing. The same thing we know about the original strain is what we know about the new strain, which is still nothing. We don’t know how fatal it is, how fast it spreads, how it spreads, whether a vaccine can protect against it, if masks can stop it, if you get immunity to it after having it, whether you can get it again, or what to do if you get it.
It is by design that we know so little. If we think we know something the news says it is wrong. If we start to think the opposite, the news says we are wrong. If we have a study the news hypes it or mocks it depending on how much we think we are learning. The more we learn, the more they find evidence against it.
We still act like nobody has ever had it and that everybody that gets it is going to die. People who have had it say it is no big deal and anybody who dies for any reason is said to have died from it. First it was a weapon against Trump and his economic success but now they are addicted to the power.
BREAKING NEWS!!!!!
Life causes DEATH.
Healthcare experts everywhere are reporting that every minute you live moves you a minute closer to DEATH.
The experts stress there is no need for ALARM except you are getting closer and closer to DEATH with every breath.
COVID-21. Right on time.
Where is the appropriate picture of goebbels to accompany this tripe?
Just what I was thinking. Ugh.
Life causes DEATH.
Life is a sexually transmitted condition that is invariably fatal.
I’m beginning to think that NOBODY knows what is going on with this virus. It’s just going to do it’s thing. I also think a lot of people that live in my state (AZ) have it, have had it, mild or annoying and didn’t even go to the dr. I had a wierd cough, felt odd, sniffles and was absolutely turned off to food for one entire week. I never lost my taste or smell, just did not on any level want to eat. I made myself drink protein drinks. I had fried chicken last night. It was good and I’ve totally lost the cough. I do believe it can kill some people, but not many ON IT’S OWN. Hysteria is going to kill more.
+1
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