The UK coronavirus variant could be more lethal than the original strain, possibly up to 70%, scientists say

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  • A coronavirus variant that originated in the UK it is known to be more transmissible.
  • Now scientists say that variant B.1.1.7 is probably more deadly than the original strain.
  • The variant extends across the United States and at least 82 other countries.

The coronavirus variant that originated in the UK is probably more deadly than the original strain, according to a new assessment released Friday by British government scientists.

In the report, which evaluated multiple studies, the scientists estimated that the strain, known as B.1.1.7, could be 30% to 70% more deadly than the original virus.

Studies have already shown that the UK strain is more transmissible and Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced last month that it could also be “associated with a higher degree of mortality”.
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The assessment confirmed this concern, but scientists also said more extensive studies on deaths would be needed.

Meanwhile, the most contagious variant has been circulating around the world and the United States. It has been detected in at least 82 countries, according to the New York Times. A study published earlier this month found that the UK variant spread so rapidly across the United States that the count of cases related to this strain doubled every ten days.

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“These findings show that B.1.1.7 will likely become the dominant variant in many U.S. states in March 2021, leading to further growth of COVID-19[feminine al país, tret que s’implementin immediatament esforços de mitigació urgents “, deia el document.

L’estudi també va dir que la variant del Regne Unit és un 35% a un 45% més transmissible que altres soques que s’estenen als EUA. Els científics també han expressat la seva preocupació pel fet que la variant pugui desenvolupar una mutació que l’ajudaria a eludir les vacunes. Encara no està clar per què la variant del Regne Unit pot tenir una taxa de mortalitat més alta. Els científics han afirmat que una de les possibles raons és que les persones que s’hi infecten podrien tenir una càrrega viral més elevada o més del virus al cos, cosa que està relacionada amb un COVID-19 més sever, segons informa Insider.

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