All about the new mutant strain of Covid-19 virus

One of the jokes doing the rounds of social media currently is that for an entire year, we had stress, now, we have a strain. The obvious reference is to the new mutant strain of the Covid-19 virus. The UK which has reported several cases of the new mutant has imposed a lockdown. Several countries around the world have cancelled flights to and from UK, to contain the spread.

The news has got everyone worried. Is the new mutant more deadly? Will the illness be more serious? Will there be more fatalities? Are we staring at another pandemic in 2021? We will answer all these questions here.

What is viral mutation?

Viruses spread by making copies of each other all the time. However, this process of replication is not perfect. There are errors or differences in genetic code, between the multiple copies. This process happens over a period of time and is called mutation. Sometimes, the differences or errors make the mutant deadlier, sometimes less deadly. The differences help the virus attack healthy cells faster, or harder, or in new ways, in order to beat the body’s immune response. It is as if the virus is conspiring against us. But that is what all viruses do.

This means, viral mutation is natural and happens all the time with every single virus including the ones that give us common cold or influenza. Even the Covid-19 virus has gone through 1000+ mutations since November 2019, according to scientists. But 25 of them are more prominent, which means, hundreds or mutants have gone by without affecting us or being noticed.

What do we know about this mutant?

Scientists have given a new nomenclature to this mutant: VUI-202012/01 or lineage B.1.1.7. The new mutant was discovered early September 2020 but between then and the middle of December 2020, it has spread very quickly, much faster than previous strains of Covid-19. The mutant is said to have a transmissibility rate of 70% which is high.

This means, the virus is making copies at a faster rate, further, newer mutants are emerging faster. Already 20+ mutants of this new mutant have been discovered. The bad news is that the virus is trying harder to attack healthy cells. The good news is that our immune system is fighting the virus successfully, which is why there have been no fatalities from this strain till date.

Is the mutant deadlier?

Till date, there is no clinical evidence that the new mutant can cause illness that is more severe than earlier strains. Hence, there is no evidence that it can cause more deaths than earlier strains. However, many people are reported carrying this strain. By mid-November, 25% of all new Covid cases reported in London were of the new mutant. By mid-December, this figure had reached 67%.

Why is UK reacting so strongly?

The new mutant has infected a lot of people in a short period of time. So the UK is doing what it should be. Imposing a lockdown is a prophylactic or preventive measure to limit spread of the strain which is fast-spreading. The UK, or any other country in the world, would have done the same thing if there was a spurt in Covid cases from existing strains.

Should India be worried?

As of writing this article, there have been no cases of this new mutant discovered in India. If and when it shows up in India, it might have developed more mutations which are either stronger or weaker than the current version.

Who is at risk?

The same people who are at risk from older strains of the virus are at risk from the newer strain. Infants, children below 10 years of age, elders with or without co-morbidities (major health conditions) and people across age-groups who have such co-morbidities or a compromised immune system.

Will the vaccines help?

 A resounding yes! Scientists are assuring the general public that vaccines currently being developed will be equally effective against the mutant strain. This confidence comes from 2 reasons:

1. Viruses attach themselves to healthy cells and destroy them, with a latch called the Spike protein. The vaccines being developed currently will be effective in destroying a wide range of spike proteins. Further, vaccines in general are updated, as well as that for Covid-19 will be updated, to factor in newer strains of the virus concerned. This means, you may have to take an extra shot over the expected 2 shots of vaccine.
2. Spike protein is not the only thing that a vaccine targets. It attacks various characteristics of the virus in order to destroy it or render it ineffective.

How can we guard against it?

It has emerged that the new strain of Covid-19 virus is more contagious than older strains. If contagiousness is one issue, carelessness is another. People are still taking the pandemic lightly. This will increase your risk to the new or newer mutants that will emerge. The best way to safeguard yourself against any strain of the virus is following the 3 major precautions: social distancing, wearing a mask while outside the home (or interacting with visitors at home), and washing hands with soap and water or using a sanitizer if soap and water are not available. It is always advisable to avoid crowds, especially indoors in confined and ill-ventilated rooms.

Conclusion

The new mutant strain is in the limelight with cities like Mumbai and Bangalore announcing a night curfew from 23^rd December 2020 to 3^rd Jan 2021, in an effort to avoid “clusters”. While this is good precaution, please note there is no cause for panic. Do not let fear-mongers around you create panic.

Ensure that elders, or those with co-morbidities, do not step out of the house unless it can’t be avoided. Follow the same precautions that you have been doing till date with the existing strain. Your body’s immune system and the impending vaccines will tackle the new strain successfully. Rest assured, the new strain will be just another chapter in the pandemic story.

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Kauvery Hospital is globally known for its multidisciplinary services at all its Centers of Excellence, and for its comprehensive, Avant-Grade technology, especially in diagnostics and remedial care in heart diseases, transplantation, vascular and neurosciences medicine. Located in the heart of Trichy (Tennur, Royal Road and Alexandria Road (Cantonment), Chennai, Hosur, Salem, Tirunelveli and Bengaluru, the hospital also renders adult and pediatric trauma care.

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