How many variants of the coronavirus are there?
Many of them circulate around the world, but health experts are especially concerned about the rise of three.
Because a virus infects humans, it can mutate by making copies of itself. Some mutations can harm a virus, causing it to die out. Others can provide a benefit and help spread it.
“Not every mutation is created equal,” says Dr. Mary Petrone, who studies infectious diseases at Yale University. “The virus will be lucky every now and then.”
Monitoring variants is important because of the potential to make vaccines and treatments less effective or change the way they infect humans.
A mutation at the start of the pandemic spread the virus around the world, but there have been no significant changes since then – until recently, said Ohio State University biologist Daniel Jones.
One of the three main variants that experts are looking at was discovered in the UK late last year and has since been found in dozens of countries. Health officials initially said it didn’t appear to cause worse illness, but newer information suggests this is possible – that’s still unknown at this point. It seems to spread more easily, which could lead to more hospitalizations and deaths.
The variant could become dominant in the US, according to March to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Other variants first discovered in South Africa and Brazil also appear to be more contagious, experts say.
Data so far suggests that current vaccines should still protect against these variants, although there is some concern that their effectiveness may be somewhat diminished. There is some evidence that some antibody treatments may be less effective against certain variants.
There are ways to modify vaccines and treatments to maintain their effectiveness, said Dr. Anthony Fauci, America’s top infectious disease expert.
The emergence of variants is related to persistent peaks because infections allow viruses to mutate and spread. It’s another reason why experts stress the importance of wearing masks and social detachment.
“The fewer people carry the virus, the fewer chances it has to mutate,” Jones said.
___
The AP answers your questions about the corona virus in this series. Submit them to: [email protected].
Read previous viral questions:
Can COVID-19 Vaccines Be Mixed and Combined?
Should I Get a COVID-19 Vaccine If I’ve Had the Virus?
If I’ve already had the coronavirus, can I get it again?