The highly contagious variant of COVID-19 first detected in the UK is spreading rapidly across the United States, doubling every 10 days, according to a new study.
Researchers predicted that the strain known as B117 could become the most prevalent in the nation next month, according to the study, which has not yet been peer-reviewed and was posted Sunday on the prepress server. MedRxiv.
The group led by scientists from the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, California, determined that the new variant arrived in the US as early as November.
Upon examination of genomic analyzes of virus samples, they found that the mutation had doubled in frequency approximately every week and a half.
In Florida, it is estimated that the new strain will now be responsible for 4% of all cases.
In comparison, the national rate is probably between 1 and 2 percent, the researchers said.
The study estimated that its transmission rate has been between 35 and 45 percent faster than other strains, prompting researchers to warn that action must be taken “immediately” to prevent rises similar to those they have forced new blockades in the UK.
“Our study shows that the United States has a similar trajectory to that of other countries where B.1.1.7 quickly became the dominant variant of SARS-CoV-2, requiring immediate and decisive action to minimize morbidity and mortality from covid-19 “, the authors wrote. .
“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 increases in COVID-19 in the country,” they added.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has detected at least 611 cases of the strain in 33 states, although the variant is likely to be much more widespread, as genetic sequencing is not a standard practice.