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The British variant of the coronavirus may be associated with higher mortality, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in January. Another study has just been released that confirms these suspicions. What’s more, on its basis, scientists estimate that variant B.1.1.7 is about 64 percent. more lethal than previous dominant variants. What exactly did the analyzes show?
- The so-called the UK variant of the coronavirus is more contagious. New evidence suggests it may also be more lethal
- New analyzes show that the risk of death after B.1.1.7 infection is up to approx. 64%. higher
- You can find more such stories on the TvoiLokony home page
The British variant of the coronavirus (referred to as B.1.1.7) was first identified in September 2020. The British Minister of Health announced its detection on December 14. Today we know that the SARS-CoV-2 mutation from Great Britain has already reached over 100 countries. In January this year, it was also discovered in Poland, largely contributing to the development of the third wave of the epidemic.
It is estimated that the variant from Great Britain is 30 to 70 percent. more contagious than the original coronavirus (meaning that less pathogen is enough to cause symptoms of the disease). In January, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that the British variant “may be associated with higher mortality”. Unfortunately, these suspicions are confirmed by further studies. On March 10, scientists announced the latest results of the analyzes. They were published in the peer-reviewed British Medical Journal.
«The highly contagious COVID-19 variant, which has spread worldwide since its first discovery in the UK late last year, is down at 30%. up to 100 percent (and therefore probably by about 64%) more deadly than the previous dominant variants »- reports Reuters, citing the scientists’ announcement.
- Editors recommend: Does British mutation have other symptoms? The doctor explains
British SARS-CoV-2 mutation “becomes a threat that should be taken seriously”
British scientists analyzed the data on the number of fatalities among the infected group, in which different variants of the virus were found. At 54 thousand 906 patients with COVID-19 caused by the British variant, 227 died. With the same number of infections with other coronavirus variants, 141 patients lost their lives.
«In the community, death from COVID-19 is still a rare event, but variant B.1.1.7 increases the risk. Combined with the possibility of its rapid spread, B.1.1.7 becomes a threat that should be taken seriously »warns lead author of the study Dr Robert Challen of the University of Exeter.
The analyzes also showed that a higher risk of death in patients infected with the British SARS-CoV-2 mutation appears about two weeks after the disease. Dr. Amesh Adalja of the Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Security, who was not involved in the research, commented on this issue on CNN. – There is a clear ‘separation’ that occurs after two weeks, so I would like more information on what the authors believe this may be caused (…) Do you develop a bacterial infection because patients stay longer in hospital? Are blood clots more frequent? This is what I find most interesting – says the scientist.
British mutation more deadly? Scientists comment on the results of the study
Other scientists also commented on the analyzes presented in the British Medical Journal. “This study confirms previous work showing that infection with variant B.1.1.7 is associated with an increased risk of death,” said virologist and professor of molecular oncology at Warwick University in the UK, Lawrence Young (he was not involved in the study). The mechanisms responsible for the higher risk of death in the British coronavirus variant are still uncertain. However, they may be associated with higher levels of viral replication and increased transmission capacity, admits the specialist.
Dr. Julian Tang, Honorary Associate Professor and Clinical Virologist at the University of Leicester, emphasizes that “he is still not too convinced of the research results”. “Winter temperatures can” exacerbate underlying conditions “such as chronic heart, lung, kidney and neurological problems – which can predispose people to more severe COVID-19 or even die, says Julian Tang. “We have to come back to this in spring to take into account the cold weather factor and other seasonal variables,” he points out.
It is also necessary to determine whether the higher death rates associated with the British coronavirus mutation also apply to patients elsewhere in the world.
Finally, let us quote an important comment from the already mentioned Dr. Dr. Adalja: – If we take to the truth that the British variant is more lethal, the importance of providing people with COVID-19 vaccines as soon as possible grows even more. Our vaccines are stable and resistant to this variant, says Adalja. – The sooner we give them to people, the less of a problem this variant will be.
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