UK Covid-19 variant most dominant strain in the US
The more contagious B.1.1.7 strain of the novel coronavirus, first detected in the UK, is now the most dominant coronavirus strain in the United States. And unlike the original strain of the novel coronavirus, the B.1.1.7 strain is hitting young people particularly hard.
“(Covid-19) cases and emergency room visits are up,” said Dr Rochelle Walensky, director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.”We are seeing these increases in younger adults, most of whom have not yet been vaccinated.”
Doctors say that many young people are now suffering from Covid-19 complications and older adults or people with pre-existing conditions are not the only ones at risk of severe Covid-19.
The B.1.1.7 strain of the novel coronavirus appears to be the most dangerous new variant due to its significant mutation.
We did a little research to understand why.
Coronavirus latches onto cells with its spike proteins (the spikes surrounding the surface of the virus). With the original strain of the novel coronavirus, a certain amount of the virus (or inoculum) was needed in order to stick. The mutation of B.1.1.7 allows its spike protein to stick to the cells more easily.
“The B.1.1.7 variant has mutations that allow it to bind more” to cells, said Dr Jonathan Reiner, a CNN medical analyst and professor of medicine and surgery at George Washington University. “So these new variants, particularly the UK variant, seem to be stickier. So the notion is that it’s more contagious, so to speak because potentially you don’t need as much inoculum to get sick.”
What this means is that even brief exposure can cause a higher viral load. In other words, a small exposure to the virus would cause a higher number of virus particles in the respiratory tract, making it more fatal as well as more contagious.