VARIANTS
CDC / New Variants of the Virus that Causes COVID-19
Updated Jan. 28, 2021
“Information about the characteristics of these variants is rapidly emerging. Scientists are working to learn more about how easily they spread, whether they could cause more severe illness, and whether currently authorized vaccines will protect people against them.”
COVID-19 and Your Health
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Emerging SARS-CoV-2 Variants
Updated Jan. 28, 2021
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
(
Previous update / CDC / Dec. 29, 2020
Interim: Implications of the Emerging SARS-CoV-2 Variant VOC 202012/01)
“Multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants are circulating globally. Several new variants emerged in the fall of 2020, most notably:
- In the United Kingdom (UK), a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 (known as 20I/501Y.V1, VOC 202012/01, or B.1.1.7) emerged with a large number of mutations. This variant has since been detected in numerous countries around the world, including the United States (US). In January 2021, scientists from UK reported evidence[1] that suggests the B.1.1.7 variant may be associated with an increased risk of death compared with other variants. More studies are needed to confirm this finding. This variant was reported in the US at the end of December 2020.
- In South Africa, another variant of SARS-CoV-2 (known as 20H/501Y.V2 or B.1.351) emerged independently of B.1.1.7. This variant shares some mutations with B.1.1.7. Cases attributed to this variant have been detected in multiple countries outside of South Africa. This variant was reported in the US at the end of January 2021.
- In Brazil, a variant of SARS-CoV-2 (known as P.1) emerged that was first was identified in four travelers from Brazil, who were tested during routine screening at Haneda airport outside Tokyo, Japan. This variant has 17 unique mutations, including three in the receptor binding domain of the spike protein. This variant was detected in the US at the end of January 2021.
* Scientists are working to learn more about these variants to better understand how easily they might be transmitted and the effectiveness of currently authorized vaccines against them. New information about the virologic, epidemiologic, and clinical characteristics of these variants is rapidly emerging.
CDC, in collaboration with other public health agencies, is monitoring the situation closely. CDC is working to detect and characterize emerging viral variants. Furthermore, CDC has staff available to provide technical support to investigate the epidemiologic and clinical characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 variant infections. CDC will communicate new information as it becomes available.“
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US COVID-19 Cases Caused by Variants
Updated Jan. 28, 2021 / COVID-19 and Your Health
View a map showing the number of confirmed cases in each state / View Cases
“The emerging variants CDC is closely monitoring have mutations in the virus genome that alter the characteristics and cause the virus to act differently in ways that are significant to public health (e.g., causes more severe disease, spreads more easily between humans, requires different treatments, changes the effectiveness of current vaccines). It’s important to understand that genetic mutations are expected, and some variants can spread and become predominant while others subside.
*The cases identified above are based on a sampling of SARS-CoV-2-positive specimens and do not represent the total number of B.1.1.7, B.1.351, and P.1 lineage cases that may be circulating in the United States and may not match numbers reported by states, territories, tribes, and local officials.
†Numbers will be updated on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday by 7:00 pm.”
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Global scientists double down on SARS-CoV-2 variants research at WHO-hosted forum
12 January 2021
“Global scientists are intensifying research into COVID-19, as the World Health Organization (WHO) moves to expand its scientific collaboration and monitoring of emerging variants of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
A day-long virtual meeting of scientists from around the globe, convened by WHO, brought together more than 1 750 experts from 124 countries to discuss critical knowledge gaps and research priorities for emerging variants of the virus.
Welcoming them, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, said: “Science and research have played a vital role in responding to the pandemic since day one and will continue to be the heartbeat of everything WHO does.”“
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[URL='https://www.cnbc.com/2021/01/11/japan-covid-variant-how-it-compares-to-strains-in-uk-south-africa.html']Japan has found a new Covid variant. Here's how it compares to virus strains in the UK, South Africa
Jan. 11, 2021
[/URL]
Japan Identifies a New Coronavirus Variant
It is not clear if the third strain is more transmissible or causes more severe cases of COVID-19.
Jan. 12, 2021
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Biden adviser says variants could turn the pandemic into a situation "unlike anything we’ve seen yet"
Jan. 19, 2021
How Covid-19 mutations are changing the pandemic
Understanding what is driving new variants of the coronavirus to appear and what the changes mean will be crucial in our arms race against Covid-19.
27th January 2021
UK Covid-19 variant now in 70 countries, South African in 31: WHO
The UN agency stressed that the emergence of new variants has underscored the importance of increasing diagnostic capacity and systematic sequencing of SARS-CoV-2.
Jan. 27, 2021
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COVID news: South Africa variant; South Carolina; Michael Strahan
Jan. 28, 2021
►The South Africa variant of the coronavirus has reached the U.S.: Two cases were identified in South Carolina. There is no evidence infections from the variant cause more severe disease, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a statement, adding that "preliminary data suggests this variant may spread more easily and quickly than other variants." There's also concern vaccines might be less effective against this variant.
South African COVID variant detected in South Carolina
Jan. 28, 2021
Variant COVID among triggers for grim surge in Manaus, Brazil
Jan. 28, 2021
Osterholm: We need to understand what's coming
Jan. 29, 2021
Why America is ‘flying blind’ to the coronavirus mutations racing across the globe
Researchers warn the U.S. desperately needs to sequence more genomes so it can stay ahead of new variants
Jan. 29, 2021
New coronavirus variants are fueling a ‘second wave’ in Africa, WHO warns
FRI, JAN 29
- More than 175,000 new cases and more than 6,200 deaths were reported across the continent in the week leading up to Thursday, the WHO said in an update.
- The variant first discovered in South Africa is driving record infection rates, and has now been identified in Botswana, Ghana, Kenya and the French Indian Ocean region of Mayotte, Zambia.
- Meanwhile, the highly contagious strain initially detected in the U.K. has now made its way to Nigeria and Gambia.
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Osterholm Update: COVID-19
Episode 40: An Imperfect Storm
January 21, 2021
In this episode, Dr. Osterholm and host Chris Dall discuss the latest information on SARS-CoV-2 variants, estimates as to just how much of the US population might have some immunity to the virus, and the current supply and demand of vaccines.
Osterholm Update: COVID-19
Episode 41: Surrender Is Not an Option
January 28, 2021
In this episode, Dr. Osterholm and host Chris Dall discuss the issue of opening schools, updates on variants of concern, and more news on vaccines and their distribution.
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GISAID - Initiative
GISAID - hCov19 Variants
GISAID - phylodynamics
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More at WS Thread:
SARS-CoV-2 Variants - Coronavirus COVID-19 **NO DISCUSSION**
