As coronavirus variants evolve, how much more dangerous can they get?
Technology

As coronavirus variants evolve, how much more dangerous can they get?


New Scientist Default Image

A human cell infected with the B.1.1.7 variant of coronavirus

National Institutes of Health/Science Photo Library

THE devastating impact of the new coronavirus variants is becoming clear. The more transmissible B.1.1.7 variant first identified in the UK is causing a surge of infections and deaths around the world. Is this just the beginning? Could even nastier variants evolve?

When considering future variants, there are three main properties to worry about: transmissibility, evasion of immunity to past infection or vaccines, and lethality. Of these, transmissibility is the most important. The new coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, is far less lethal than the Ebola …



Source link

Leave a Reply