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New coronavirus variant identified in New York: researchers

Published 02/24/2021, 08:22 PM
Updated 02/24/2021, 08:25 PM
© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Small toy figures are seen in front of the coronavirus (COVID-19) sign in this illustration taken

© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Small toy figures are seen in front of the coronavirus (COVID-19) sign in this illustration taken

By Deena Beasley

(Reuters) - A new coronavirus variant that shares some similarities with a more transmissible and intractable variant discovered in South Africa is on the rise in New York City, researchers said on Wednesday.

The new variant, known as B.1.526, was first identified in samples collected in New York in November, and by mid-February represented about 12% of cases, researchers at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, said on Wednesday.

The variant was also described in research published online this week by the California Institute of Technology. Neither study has been reviewed by outside experts.

The Columbia researchers said an analysis of publicly available databases did not show a high prevalence of coronavirus variants recently identified in South Africa and Brazil in case samples from New York City and surrounding areas.

"Instead we found high numbers of this home-grown lineage,” Dr. Anne-Catrin Uhlemann, assistant professor in the division of infectious diseases at Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons, said in a statement.

The Columbia study found that B.1.526 shares some worrying characteristics with B.1.351, the variant first identified in South Africa, and P.1., which was first identified in Brazil. Several studies have suggested that those new variants are more resistant to some existing vaccines than earlier versions of the coronavirus.

The researchers said the main concern is a change in one area of the virus’ spike protein, called E484K, that is present in all three variants. The E484K mutation is believed to weaken the body’s immune response to the virus. 

© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Small toy figures are seen in front of the coronavirus (COVID-19) sign in this illustration taken

Studies have shown that recently launched coronavirus vaccines are still likely to neutralize the virus and protect against severe illness, even for infections with new variants. Vaccine makers are also working to develop booster shots to combat mutated versions of the virus.

Latest comments

is it cuomo
They will keep us locked down forever with new viruses and variants. Enough is enough
The people who were phobes before the BS pandemic, their lifes are done when it comes to fearThe others who follow the logic of the BS science are next to done
They just found 240 variantes in India. You wanna add that just now or spread this info one variant at a time throughout the next 12 months? and then then next 300 variants next year. Also, leave out the 99.95% survival rate, that won't help the fear driver propaganda, and the the selling of the poor selling vaccine business, as you can check here - https://ourworldindata.org/covid-vaccinations
*variants *driven... bah, i can't type...
except that there is no 99.9% survival rate. learn your basic math. the virus is ***nearly 1.5% of those infected and leaving nearly 15% with long term health issues. the seasonal flu has an historic .001% death rate, or, 1 in 1000 deaths. COVID is 10 Xs more deadly.
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