So far, none of the new variants appears to make people sicker or cause more death.
Generally, it doesn t make sense for a virus to become deadlier because viruses that kill their hosts too quickly can t continue reproducing.
Middle East Respiratory Virus, for instance, which is similar to SARS-CoV-2, kills about one-third of its victims. But after a few scares when it first appeared in 2012-2013, it hasn t spread much beyond Saudi Arabia, where it was first seen.
Virologists were relieved COVID-19 wasn t as deadly but from the start its rapid rate of spread made it dangerous. And the new
New strains of COVID swiftly moving through the US need careful watch, scientists say Karen Weintraub and Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY
How viruses like COVID-19 mutate, and how they impact vaccine development
Replay Video UP NEXT
Viruses live – if you can call it that – to replicate themselves. They hijack cells, including our own, and use them to make copies of themselves.
But every time a virus like the one that causes COVID-19 copies itself, as it does millions of times inside each infected person, mistakes can happen. Instead of perfectly copying its 29,811 bases, the four-letter alphabet used to describe its genetic code, a wrong letter sneaks in.
January 21, 2021
People with diabetes are at a higher risk of developing complications of COVID-19, making it all the more important that they are vaccinated against the disease as soon as possible.
Luis Alvarez/Getty Images
It’s a new year, and COVID-19 vaccines offer hope for those wanting to protect themselves, especially people with underlying health conditions such as diabetes.
You may have questions about these new vaccines, including when you can get them and what questions you should ask your doctor about them. Experts we talked with say the vaccines are safe, effective, and important for people with diabetes.