A new strain of the coronavirus that is widespread in the UK may already be circulating in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported Tuesday.
The agency, in a scientific summary, said scientists are working to better understand how easily it can be transmitted and do not yet know why it has emerged in the UK.
“While a variant may predominate in a geographic area, this fact alone does not mean that the variant is more infectious,” the CDC said.
The CDC noted that although the strain has not yet been detected in the U.S., it is likely to be already circulating.
“Continuous travel between the UK and the US, as well as the high prevalence of this variant among current UK infections, increase the likelihood of imports. Given the small fraction of US infections that are ‘they’ve sequenced, the variant could already be in the United States without being detected, “the CDC said.
The agency said only about 51,000 of the 17 million U.S. cases have been sequenced by viruses.
Different virus variants often appear or disappear by chance, the CDC said, which may be the case for the British strain, known as VUI 202012/01 for “investigated variant”.
Alternatively, it may be emerging because it is more suitable for spreading in humans.
The CDC acknowledged that the “rapid shift from being a rare strain to becoming a common strain has worried UK scientists”, but added that “there is no evidence that this variant causes a more serious disease or a increased risk of death “.
The coronavirus mutates regularly, the CDC said, acquiring approximately one new mutation in its genome every two weeks. Despite this, most commercial diagnostic tests are able to detect the virus.
There are also no indications that the new strain interferes with patients’ response to current coronavirus vaccines.
The CDC, along with state and local health departments, is launching a new surveillance system in January to monitor any genetic changes in virus strains that have already been identified and sequenced in the U.S.
The new variant has sparked a wave of travel restrictions aimed at preventing it from spreading beyond the UK. However, European Union countries have taken a haphazard approach, causing major trade disruptions. Sudden restrictions have also left many people stranded at airports.
Anthony Fauci
Anthony FauciWhite House reflects on the need for British travelers to present a negative coronavirus test: they report overnight healthcare: Congress to approve agreement with 0 stimulus controls | Internal Panel Citations for Documents Random, Redfield CDC | Fauci and Azar will receive the vaccine against COVID-19 on Tuesday Ilhan Omar says he will not get the vaccine: “People who need it most should receive it” MORE, the nation’s leading infectious disease doctor, on Tuesday discouraged a ban on general travel to the U.S. Fauci, who called the idea “quite draconian,” and noted the New York governor. Andrew Cuomo
Andrew Cuomo: Washington governor will demand a 14-day quarantine for travelers arriving from the UK and South Africa: White House calls for British travelers to present a negative coronavirus test: report Overnight Health Care: Congress will approve an agreement with 0 stimulus controls | Internal Panel Citations for Documents Random, Redfield CDC | Fauci and Azar will receive the COVID-19 MORE vaccine on Tuesday (D) is also discussing the evidence of all arrivals in New York City.
“It’s a big difference to stop travel altogether and ban it completely, which is really a pretty dramatic step. Right now that’s not on the charts, “Fauci told” Good Morning America. “
Fauci also said Americans should assume the UK strain is “already here.”