decreased protective effect of vaccines from severe disease
The current variants of concern in the United States include the B.1.1.7, B.1.351, P.1, B.1.427, and B.1.429 variants.
Stay informed with live updates on the current COVID-19 outbreak and visit our coronavirus hub for more advice on prevention and treatment.
SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 variant
The B.1.1.7 variant first emerged in the U.K. in December 2020. Preliminary studies into the variant demonstrated a potential increase in transmission, death, and hospitalization with the B.1.1.7 variant based on limited available data.
The findings of two recently published studies provide additional data that differs from original studies regarding the B.1.1.7 variant.
There was no evidence found that patients infected with the UK variant had more severe disease
Studies published in Lancet Infectious Diseases and Lancet Public Health have found that the UK variant of COVID-19 spreads more quickly but there is no evidence to conclusively say that symptoms were worse than original coronavirus strain.
The studies found that the viral load and R-number for B.1.1.7 (UK variant of coronavirus). This indicates that it has high transmissibility.
Out of the two studies, the one published in Lancet Infectious Diseases is a whole genome sequencing and cohort study. This study involved coronavirus patients admitted to University College London Hospital and North Middlesex University Hospital between November 9 and December 20, 2020.
Studies provide insights into characteristics and clinical effect of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 variant
Two new studies, published in
The Lancet Infectious Diseases and
The Lancet Public Health, found no evidence that people with the B.1.1.7. variant experience worse symptoms or a heightened risk of developing long COVID compared with those infected with a different COVID-19 strain. However, viral load and R number were higher for B.1.1.7., adding to growing evidence that it is more transmissible than the first strain detected in Wuhan, China, in December 2019.
The emergence of variants has raised concerns that they could spread more easily and be more deadly, and that vaccines developed based on the original strain might be less effective against them. Preliminary data on B.1.1.7. indicates that it is more transmissible, with some evidence suggesting it could also be associated with increased hospitalisations and deaths. However, because the variant was identified only recently, these
Kent Covid spreads much more easily, new studies find walesonline.co.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from walesonline.co.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.