New variants of coronavirus more contagious than the original, which started the pandemic, are emerging in different parts of the world.
Scientists are studying these mutations to understand exactly what risk they pose.
What are these new variants?
The concern of experts is now focused on a small number of new variants of SARS-CoV-2 :
- the variant first detected in UK that has become dominant in much of the country and that has spread to others 30 countries.
- the variant of South Africa which has also been discovered in at least other 20 countries including UK
- the variant of Brazil
The fact of that new variants have emerged is not surprising ndente: all viruses mutate as they generate copies of themselves to spread the infection.
There are currently many thousands of different versions or variants of covid – 19 in circulation.
Most of the differences between them are not important. A few may even be detrimental to the survival of the virus.
- What have we learned about the transmission of the coronavirus in the last year (and how it can change the way we fight it)
But others can make it more infectious or dangerous.
How serious is this?
It is suspected that the UK, South African and Brazilian variants may be much more contagious or easy to contract than previous versions virus.
All three have undergone changes in the spike protein . This is the part of the virus that clings to human cells in order to enter them and reproduce.
As a result, these variants appear to be more effective at infecting cells and spreading.
Experts believe that the UK variant appeared in September, and that it may be up to a 70% more transmissible or infectious, although the most recent research published by Public Health England estimates that this value ranges from 30% and the 50%.
This variant is the one that has promoted the most recent quarantine – still in force – throughout the country.
- “Whoever has oxygen, please bring it”: the desperate situation in Manaus, the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic in Brazil
The South African variant emerged in October, and has potentially more significant changes in the spike protein than the UK variant.
It has one of the same mutations as the latter, plus two others that scientists believe may interfere with the effectiveness of the vaccine.
One of them can help the virus to evade the antibodies produced by our immune system (to fight the virus).
The Brazilian variant emerged in July and has three key mutations in the spike protein, making it similar to the South African variant.
Will the vaccines against these variants?
Current vaccines are designed around previous variants, but scientists are confident that they will still work for newer variants, although perhaps not as well.
Vaccines train the body to attack different parts of the virus. However, not to these sections of the spike protein.
In the future, variants that are different may arise again.
Even in the worst case, vaccines can be redesigned gnawed and modified if necessary in a matter of weeks or months , experts say.
As with flu vaccines, in which a new one is given each year depending on the Flu viruses that are circulating, something similar can happen with the coronavirus.
Are they more dangerous?
There is currently no evidence to indicate that none can cause a more serious infection.
- Why the new strain of coronavirus detected in the UK is so contagious
Measures such as washing hands, maintaining social distance and wearing a mask will continue to be useful to prevent new infections, and as new variants are more easily spread, it is important to be even more careful.
What is being done about it?
More variants will emerge.
Scientists around the world are watching and any new variant that emerges will be carefully studied and monitored.
- The new strain of coronavirus arrives in Latin America: 9 questions to understand what is happening
Researchers at the Kenya Medical Research Institute say they are looking at a new variant that is different from from the UK and South Africa, for example.
UK Vaccine Development Minister Nadhim Zahawi says steps have already been put in place to produce another batch of vaccines in case if necessary.
Now you can receive notifications from BBC News Mundo. Download our app and activate them so you don’t miss our best content.
- Do you already know our YouTube channel? Subscribe!
