UK variant of SARS-CoV-2 could be more deadly than previous strains
Researchers have conducted a study showing that the B.1.1.7 variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that has emerged in the UK is associated with a significantly increased risk of death compared with the viral strain previously circulating in the country.
The SARS-CoV-2 virus is the agent responsible for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic that has now caused more than 117 million infections and claimed more than 2.6 million lives worldwide.
The team’s study of an unvaccinated population found that the B.1.1.7 variant of concern (VoC) was associated with a two-thirds higher case fatality rate, compared with the strain previously circulating in this population. The risk of death was higher among males than females and increased with age and the number of comorbidities.