5 facts about variant of covid-19 detected in the US 1:24
(CNN Spanish) -
Scientists are finding out how much the new variants of the coronavirus detected in various parts of the world have spread, how the disease differs among those who are infected with these variants and how these would affect existing treatments and vaccines.
'Viruses are constantly changing through mutation, and new variants of the virus are expected to appear over time.
Sometimes new variants emerge and then disappear.
At other times, new variants emerge and persist, "says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the United States (CDC).
This is what we know about the new variants of covid-19, according to the CDC website, updated on January 15.
Variant B.1.1.7
CDC reviews UK covid-19 variant data 0:43
"A new variant called B.1.1.7 has appeared in the UK with an unusually high number of mutations," according to the CDC.
This variant has been found to spread more easily and quickly than others.
'This variant was first detected in September 2020 and is now highly prevalent in London and south-east England.
Since then, it has been detected in numerous countries around the world, including the United States and Canada, "explains the CDC.
A UK report released last Friday says there is "a realistic chance" that the new variant has a higher death rate than other variants.
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The CDC is currently in dialogue with UK health officials to learn more about British data suggesting that a new variant of the coronavirus could be more deadly.
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Variant 1,351
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Another variant of the coronavirus called 1,351 was detected in South Africa, "originally detected in early October, [which] shares some mutations with the variant detected in the United Kingdom," according to the CDC.
Cases caused by this variant have been recorded outside of South Africa, in Japan, the United Kingdom and, recently, in Panama.
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Variant P.1
5 facts about variant of covid-19 detected in the US 1:24
In Brazil, a variant called P.1 appeared, which, as the CDC explains, “was identified in four travelers from Brazil who were screened during routine screening at the Haneda airport on the outskirts of Tokyo. , Japan".
"This variant contains a number of additional mutations that could affect its ability to be recognized by antibodies," says the CDC.
This Monday, officials in Minnesota reported that this variant was detected for the first time in the United States.
As they explained, the P.1 variant of the coronavirus was identified in a traveler from Brazil.
“The variant was found through the Minnesota Department of Health variant surveillance program.
Each week, this program collects 50 random samples from clinical laboratories at the University of Minnesota, the Infinity Biologix Laboratory in Oakdale, and other partners.
Then it performs special tests using a process called whole genome sequencing, ”the Minnesota Department of Health explained in a statement.
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Also, according to California health officials, a new variant of COVID-19 is now "increasingly found in various counties in California."
'The variant, dubbed 452R, is different from variant B.1.1.7 first detected in the UK, health officials say.
As variant testing has increased in California, the 452R variant has been identified more frequently since November.
It has also been detected in large outbreaks in Santa Clara County, ”reads the January 17 news release from Santa Clara County Public Health.
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