The highly contagious COVID-19 variant first discovered in the UK is now rapidly spreading across the US – doubling about every 10 days, according to a new study.
Researchers predicted that the strain known as B117 could become the most common in the country by next month, according to the study, which is not yet to be peer-reviewed and released on preprint server MedRxiv on Sunday.
The group led by scientists at the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, California, determined that the new variety arrived in the US as early as November.
By looking at genomic analyzes of the virus samples, they found that the frequency of the mutation had doubled about every week and a half.
In Florida, the new species is now estimated to be responsible for about 4 percent of all cases.
In comparison, the national rate is likely between 1 and 2 percent, researchers said.
The study estimated transmission speeds were between 35 and 45 percent faster than other species – prompting researchers to warn that “immediate” action is needed to avoid spikes similar to those that have forced new lockdowns in the UK.
“Our study shows that the US is on a similar trajectory to other countries where B.1.1.7 quickly became the dominant SARS-CoV-2 variant, requiring immediate and decisive action to reduce the morbidity and mortality of covid-19. minimize, ”the authors wrote. .
“These findings show that B.1.1.7 is likely to become the dominant variant in many US states by March 2021, leading to further increases in COVID-19 in the country,” she added.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have discovered at least 611 cases of the strain in 33 states, although the variant is likely much more widespread because genetic sequencing is not standard practice.