New mutant variants of the coronavirus could be out of control in the United States due to a low level of genetic sequencing in positive COVID tests in the country, health officials say.
There are now more than 350 reported cases of “supercovid” in the U.S. of the three strains first detected in Brazil, the United Kingdom and South Africa.
However, health officials say it is very likely that the number of new variants circulating in the country will be much higher, as viruses by nature constantly mutate as they spread.
Some mutations can be harmful to a virus and cause its extinction, but it is cause for concern that some may be more deadly or even resistant to vaccines.
Scientists are usually able to control different strains through genetic sequencing that allows them to examine the virus from active cases and study how the particular strain will infect other people and react to vaccines.
The South African variant has a mutation in its ear protein (circled in yellow) that makes it more contagious, capable of reinfection, and potentially more immune to vaccines. Two people in South Carolina are the first cases in the United States, but since they have not traveled recently and have no obvious link, it is possible that the variant is already spreading in the United States.
165,339 more cases were registered on Friday, with 3,503 deaths, a slight decrease compared to the previous day
Although none of the three new variants of COVID have been shown to be more fatal, they are more transmissible and experts fear they may diminish the effects of the vaccine.
But detecting new variants through these means has been a challenge in the United States, where only a fraction of positive coronavirus tests are sent for further sequencing, according to the Washington Post.
Health officials say emerging strains have put medical experts and scientists on a “race against time” to identify potentially deadly new forms of COVID-19.
“Genomic surveillance is probably the first thing we can do, in addition to covid-19 testing, to track the virus,” RNA biochemist Keith Gagnon of the University of Southern Illinois said in the post . “Without her, we want the blind.”
Although health experts and scientists have supported efforts to conduct widespread sequencing, the shortage appears to be due to a lack of funding, according to the report.
The problem reflects the obstacles faced during the early days of the pandemic when the coronavirus spread across the country uncontrollably due to lack of evidence.
The new variants have created fears that could derail vaccination efforts in the country and end months of progress.
“Not all mutations are created equal,” said Mary Petrone, who studies infectious diseases at Yale University. “The virus will get lucky from time to time.”
The number of people hospitalized in the US has continued to decline in all states
Recent data had also given some hope in the battle of the virus against the virus, with infection and hospitalization rates falling almost everywhere in the US.
And on Friday, zero states reported a record number of weekly cases for the first time since Nov. 1, according to the COVID monitoring project.
Hospitalizations remain above 101,000, but the figure continues to decline in almost every state.
There are currently more than 25.9 million confirmed cases of coronavirus in the country and 436,257 deaths in total.
On Friday, 165,339 more cases were registered, with 3,503 deaths, a slight decrease compared to the previous day.
Although none of the three strains detected so far have been shown to be more lethal, it appears to have spread more easily, which could lead to more hospitalizations and deaths.
One of the top three variants that experts are seeing was discovered in the UK late last year and has since been detected in dozens of countries.
On Friday, zero states reported a record number of weekly cases for the first time since Nov. 1, according to the COVID monitoring project
Health officials initially said it did not appear to be causing the worst illness, but some more recent information suggests it could, something that is still unknown.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the variant could become dominant in the United States in March.
Other variants first detected in South Africa and Brazil also appear more contagious, according to experts.
Data to date suggest that current vaccines should still be protected against these variants, although there are doubts that their effectiveness may decrease slightly.
There is some evidence that some antibody treatments may be less effective against certain variants.
There are ways to adjust vaccines and treatments to maintain their effectiveness, said Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top U.S. infectious disease expert.
