A new “double mutant” coronavirus strain was discovered in San Francisco that is believed to be behind an increase in cases in India, marking what is believed to be the first time the variant has been detected. to the United States.
The strain is known as a “double mutant” because it carries two mutations that help the virus cling to cells, the San Francisco Chronicle notes.
The variant, such as strains from the United Kingdom and Brazil, is believed to be more transmissible than the pre-existing form of the virus. It is currently unknown whether the “double mutant” strain is more resistant to vaccines available in the US
“This Indian variant contains two mutations of the same virus for the first time, which were previously seen in separate variants,” Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease expert at the University of California at San Francisco, told the chronicle.
“Because we know that the affected domain is the part that the virus uses to enter the body and that the California variant is already potentially more resistant to some vaccine antibodies, it seems to reason that there is a possibility that the Indian variant does this as well.” added Chin-Hong.
Chin-Hong said he was “optimistic” the vaccines would be effective against the “double mutant” strain, given data showing that vaccines are effective against similar strains first detected in South Africa and California.
Health experts have warned that the U.S. could target a fourth wave of coronavirus cases fueled by new, more infectious strains. However, other experts, such as former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, have predicted that existing immunity along with increased vaccine administration could prevent a “true fourth wave.” of cases in the US
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, California has administered nearly 20 million doses of coronavirus vaccines. The state is scheduled to open vaccination requirements for all over the age of 16 beginning April 15. The United States recently set a new record by administering more than 4 million doses of coronavirus in one day. As of Monday, 32% of the U.S. population has received at least one dose.