By Doyeun Park
We have been living under pandemic conditions for longer than a year now; many things are still shut down, and life will likely never return to the normal we used to know. Fortunately, Pfitzer and other pharmaceutical companies are close to distributing an effective vaccine for the coronavirus-and just when everything seemed to be getting a whole lot better, the world is exposed to a new Covid-19 strain.
In September 2020, the United Kingdom reported the world’s first new strain of coronavirus, and it has been spreading rapidly since to other countries such as the United States, Japan, and more. Due to this new variant, there has been a 50% increase in the number of Covid cases in the UK. So, where did these variations originate?
Well, as viruses replicate their genetic information, mutations will inevitably occur. Global scientists and doctors are unsurprised with the emergence of these variants because viruses are destined to be mutated. Scientists who study the flu virus recognize that it mutates rather often, and thus recommend that the flu vaccine be administered annually. Scientists suspect that this mutation developed in a person who is immunocompromised. Unlike the flu, the SARS-CoV-2 has the ability to proofread its gene sequence and correct its mistakes while being replicated. Scientists also hypothesize that patients who have weak immune systems could host the disease for months. Hence, the mutated virus may be continuously replicated in the body for months, developing the ability to evade agents employed by the body’s immune system and becoming more resistant to destruction.
How does this new strain compare to the common SARS-CoV-2? Scientists suspect there are about 23 mutations in this virus, and these mutations each do its part to make the virus even more contagious. Moreover, doctors and scientists suggest that these mutations alter the spike proteins, and the mutations allow these spikes to attach and manifest in humans easier.
At the end of the day, could the new strain be more dangerous? Based on observations of different cases, it appears that it is still unlikely to cause severe symptoms or death. Just like its predecessor, it also seems that this strain affects children more than adults.
Another question that may arise is, will the vaccine work on this new strain? Currently, there is no evidence that the vaccine will not work on the strain. However, it is still early, and scientists do not have a definitive answer.
Scientists and doctors speculate that there will be more mutations on the horizon, and thus, urge people to continue taking precautions.
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