Alabama, father of two who has contracted UK COVID-19 variant, dies at age 35

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A family in Jefferson County, Alabama, is mourning after a father of two dies from the British COVID-19 variant, who was only 35 years old.

Alfonzia Jackson Jr., 35, was diagnosed with the B.1.1.7 variant last week while struggling to live in UAB hospital.

On Tuesday night, his wife, Ashley Jackson, took to Facebook around 9 p.m. to announce that Alfonzia had passed away.

“Lord, this day has been difficult,” Ashley posted on Facebook. “I wouldn’t wish this on anyone when I said goodbye to my wonderful husband.”

She continued: ‘Our girls will really miss you, you were a wonderful father and I will keep your memory alive through them and they will always remember you.

Alfonzia Jackson Jr., Ashley's husband and father of two daughters, passed away Tuesday night

Alfonzia Jackson Jr., Ashley’s husband and father of two daughters, passed away Tuesday night

Jackson had the British COVID-19 variant

He was on a ventilator for the days leading up to his death

Jackson had the UK COVID-19 variant and was on a ventilator for the days leading up to his death

“You are our guardian angel now and you are at peace, rest on my wonderful husband until we meet again.”

She also posted an emotional tribute with photos and videos of the family set to I’ll Be Missing You.

WBRC previously reported on Alfonzia Jackson Jr., whom Ashley said was hospitalized on January 22 with COVID symptoms and shortness of breath, despite having no idea how he might have contracted the virus.

“My husband just went to work and home,” Ashley Jackson said. ‘Gas station here and there. Nothing like going out and having fun, just a hard working man. ‘

Rapid tests showed a negative diagnosis for COVID-19, but after surgery to relieve heart failure, a PCR test showed Alfonzia had COVID-19.

Ashley Jackson announced Alfonzia's death on Facebook with an emotional tribute

Ashley Jackson announced Alfonzia’s death on Facebook with an emotional tribute

Alfonzia Jackson Jr. was hospitalized on January 22 with symptoms of COVID

Alfonzia Jackson Jr. was hospitalized on January 22 with symptoms of COVID

The Jefferson County Health Department later called Ashley to tell her Alfonzia had the British variant.

Alfonzia was placed on a ventilator in the days before his death.

A GoFundMe page originally set up to pay for medical expenses has raised more than $ 131,000 for the family to date.

Mutations of COVID-19 have always been possible, as viruses are often characterized by their ability to change and adapt.

Mutated species from the United Kingdom, South Africa, and Brazil have recently come into the picture, with the British species becoming the most common mutation in the United States.

The latest from the CDC reports 541 cases of the British mutation in the United States in 33 different states.

Meanwhile, only five reported cases of the other significant mutations have been combined so far.

It was initially believed that the British variant was only more contagious, although British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has since said it could also be more deadly.

According to his wife, it is unclear how the father of two children contracted the virus

According to his wife, it is unclear how the father of two children contracted the virus

A GoFundMe initially set aside for medical expenses has raised more than $ 131,000 for the family

A GoFundMe initially set aside for medical expenses has raised more than $ 131,000 for the family

The two vaccines currently available in the United States are believed to be effective against the variants, although booster shots may be needed later.

Last week, a person in New Jersey died of the British variant, which is believed to be the first death of the species in the United States.

The person who died in New Jersey had no recent history of international travel.

Alabama has seen only three confirmed cases of the British variant, although flaws in the virus sequencing across the country leave open the possibility that the strain is much more common than reported.

The death toll from COVID-19 is approaching 450,000 in the United States

The death toll from COVID-19 is approaching 450,000 in the United States

The tragedy in that state follows some positive developments in the fight against COVID-19.

The latest data from Johns Hopkins University showed a 44 percent decrease in coronavirus cases from three weeks ago over a seven-day period.

As vaccination coverage in the United States remains relatively low, this is not believed to be a factor in the declining numbers, making the outlook even brighter.

Instead, the decrease can be attributed to a decrease in the number of trips since the end of the holiday period.

It could also be due to a lower rate of cases than those who contracted the virus, with antibodies hopefully protecting those people.

In total, there have been more than 26 million COVID-19 cases in the United States, with a death toll rapidly approaching 450,000.

Of the variants in the United States, the British species is the most dominant, with distribution to 33 states and counted so far, accounting for more than 500 cases

Of the variants in the United States, the British species is the most dominant, with distribution to 33 states and counted so far, accounting for more than 500 cases

WHAT ARE THE ‘SUPER-COVID’ VARIANTS THAT SPREAD AROUND THE WORLD?

THE UK’S ‘KENT’ VARIANT – B117

British health officials announced in December that a ‘variety of concern’ had surfaced in Kent.

The variant is known to scientists as B117, a name derived from the location of the major mutations.

B117 appears to be more contagious than older ‘wild-type’ coronavirus variants.

Most estimates say it is about 70% more contagious, but some studies suggest it could be twice as contagious, while more moderate projections say its transmissibility is only about 56% higher.

B117 quickly became dominant in the UK and now accounts for at least 61% of cases there.

It has been discovered in 60 countries, including the US, where at least 159 cases have been identified in 22 states.

While the mutations seemed to make the variant quite clearly more contagious, it didn’t seem to change the likelihood of severe COVID-19 or death.

But British health officials said Friday it could be 30 to 40% more deadly, based on the number of people infected with it die. The death rate for people hospitalized with B117 in the UK does not appear to differ from that of older variants.

After reviewing the UK data, Dr. Anthony Fauci, America’s top infectious disease expert, said it could indeed be more deadly.

However, he and UK officials still say other variants are more concerning because they may make vaccines less effective – which doesn’t seem to be the case with the UK variant.

SOUTH AFRICAN VARIANT – B1351

A new variant was announced in South Africa on December 18.

It shares a mutation with the British variant – at a location in the genome known as 501Y – but has several other mutations as well.

The South African variant is estimated to be about 50 percent more contagious and is already dominant there.

It has spread to at least 20 countries, including the UK, which has at least 77 countries.

The mutated variety of South Africa has not yet been observed in the US, but many experts suspect it is already there.

President Joe Biden imposed a travel ban on people coming from South Africa in an attempt to stop imports of the new variety.

Dr. Fauci says the South African variety is the most concerning as it may make vaccines less effective due to mutations that help it ‘hide’ from antibodies developed after vaccination or a previous attack of COVID-19.

THE VARIANT OF BRAZIL – P1

The variant first drew international attention when four travelers arriving in Tokyo from Manaus, Brazil, tested positive on January 2.

The variant has the same peak protein mutation as the highly transmittable versions found in Kent and South Africa – called N501Y – which makes the peak more able to bind to receptors in the body.

Manaus, the largest city in the Amazon, has been destroyed by COVID-19. Hospitals are running low on oxygen and Brazilian officials have said it is in crisis.

The new variant accounts for nearly half of all cases there and is believed to be more contagious and potentially make vaccines less effective.

The variant has been spotted in Japan, France and Germany. It has not yet been discovered in the UK or the US – but former FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb said he suspects it has already arrived.

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