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Covid: How worrying are the UK, South Africa, and Brazil coronavirus variants? | Covid: How worrying are the UK, South Africa, and Brazil coronavirus variants? |
(32 minutes later) | |
New variants of coronavirus are emerging that are more infectious than the original one that started the pandemic. | New variants of coronavirus are emerging that are more infectious than the original one that started the pandemic. |
The UK is stepping up testing to find and stop cases from spreading in the community. | The UK is stepping up testing to find and stop cases from spreading in the community. |
And scientists are urgently studying the mutated versions to understand what threat they pose. | And scientists are urgently studying the mutated versions to understand what threat they pose. |
What are these new variants? | What are these new variants? |
There are many thousands of different versions, or variants, of Covid circulating. | There are many thousands of different versions, or variants, of Covid circulating. |
Experts' concerns focus on a few: | Experts' concerns focus on a few: |
A UK variant that has become dominant in much of Britain and has spread to more than 50 other countries | A UK variant that has become dominant in much of Britain and has spread to more than 50 other countries |
A South Africa variant that has also been found in at least 20 other countries, including the UK | A South Africa variant that has also been found in at least 20 other countries, including the UK |
A variant from Brazil | A variant from Brazil |
It's not unexpected that new variants have developed - all viruses mutate as they make new copies of themselves to spread and thrive. | It's not unexpected that new variants have developed - all viruses mutate as they make new copies of themselves to spread and thrive. |
Most of these differences are inconsequential. A few can even be harmful to the virus's survival. But some can make it more infectious or threatening. | Most of these differences are inconsequential. A few can even be harmful to the virus's survival. But some can make it more infectious or threatening. |
Coronavirus variants: The science explained | Coronavirus variants: The science explained |
Are the new ones more dangerous? | Are the new ones more dangerous? |
There is no evidence that any of them cause much more serious illness for the vast majority of people who become infected. | There is no evidence that any of them cause much more serious illness for the vast majority of people who become infected. |
As with the original version, the risk is highest for people who are elderly or have significant underlying health conditions. | As with the original version, the risk is highest for people who are elderly or have significant underlying health conditions. |
For the new UK variant there is some research suggesting it may be associated with a 30% higher risk of death. The evidence is not strong and the data is still uncertain though. More studies are being done. | For the new UK variant there is some research suggesting it may be associated with a 30% higher risk of death. The evidence is not strong and the data is still uncertain though. More studies are being done. |
Measures such as washing your hands, keeping your distance from other people and wearing a face covering will still help prevent infections, and because the new variants appear to spread more easily it is important to be extra vigilant. | Measures such as washing your hands, keeping your distance from other people and wearing a face covering will still help prevent infections, and because the new variants appear to spread more easily it is important to be extra vigilant. |
What's happening to the virus? | What's happening to the virus? |
The UK, South Africa and Brazil variants could be much more contagious or easy to catch than earlier versions. | The UK, South Africa and Brazil variants could be much more contagious or easy to catch than earlier versions. |
All three have undergone changes to their spike protein - this is the part of the virus which attaches to human cells. | All three have undergone changes to their spike protein - this is the part of the virus which attaches to human cells. |
As a result, these variants seem to be better at infecting cells and spreading. | As a result, these variants seem to be better at infecting cells and spreading. |
Experts think the UK or "Kent" strain emerged in September and may be up to 70% more transmissible or infectious, although latest research by Public Health England puts it between 30% and 50%. It is this variant which has driven the latest lockdowns around the UK. | Experts think the UK or "Kent" strain emerged in September and may be up to 70% more transmissible or infectious, although latest research by Public Health England puts it between 30% and 50%. It is this variant which has driven the latest lockdowns around the UK. |
The South Africa variant emerged in October, and it has more potentially important changes in the spike protein than the UK variant - although experts have recently found a handful of cases of the UK variant that have these more concerning changes too. | |
A key mutation, called E484K, may help the virus evade parts of the immune system called antibodies - some research appears to show this. | |
South Africa coronavirus variant: What's the risk? | South Africa coronavirus variant: What's the risk? |
UK variant has mutated again, scientists say | |
The Brazil variant emerged in July and has this E484K mutation too. | |
The UK government has announced a ban on flights from South Africa and South America and Portugal to prevent spread. | The UK government has announced a ban on flights from South Africa and South America and Portugal to prevent spread. |
Will vaccines still work? | Will vaccines still work? |
Studies are underway to check this and some early results suggest the Pfizer vaccine protects against the new variants. | Studies are underway to check this and some early results suggest the Pfizer vaccine protects against the new variants. |
Data on two new coronavirus vaccines that could be approved soon - one from Novavax and another from Janssen - appear to offer some protection against the variant. | Data on two new coronavirus vaccines that could be approved soon - one from Novavax and another from Janssen - appear to offer some protection against the variant. |
Current vaccines were designed around earlier versions of coronavirus, but scientists believe they should still work against the new ones, although perhaps not quite as well. | Current vaccines were designed around earlier versions of coronavirus, but scientists believe they should still work against the new ones, although perhaps not quite as well. |
Early results from Moderna suggest its vaccine is still effective against the South Africa variant. | Early results from Moderna suggest its vaccine is still effective against the South Africa variant. |
Vaccines train the body to attack several parts of the virus, not just these sections of the spike protein. | Vaccines train the body to attack several parts of the virus, not just these sections of the spike protein. |
Variants could emerge in the future that are more different again. | Variants could emerge in the future that are more different again. |
Even in the worst case scenario, vaccines could be redesigned and tweaked to be a better match - in a matter or weeks or months, if necessary, say experts. | Even in the worst case scenario, vaccines could be redesigned and tweaked to be a better match - in a matter or weeks or months, if necessary, say experts. |
As with flu, where a new shot is given each year to account for any changes in circulating flu viruses, something similar could happen for coronavirus. | As with flu, where a new shot is given each year to account for any changes in circulating flu viruses, something similar could happen for coronavirus. |
What is being done about it? | What is being done about it? |
More variants will emerge. | More variants will emerge. |
Scientists around the world are on the look-out and any important ones will be closely studied and monitored. | Scientists around the world are on the look-out and any important ones will be closely studied and monitored. |
The UK's vaccine development minster says measures have already been put in place to produce another wave of vaccines if needed. | The UK's vaccine development minster says measures have already been put in place to produce another wave of vaccines if needed. |
Urgent testing for the South Africa variant of coronavirus is starting in parts of England, after cases were found with no known links to travel or previous cases. |