A new study has revealed that the B.1.17 COVID-19 variant first discovered in the United Kingdom last year has a significantly higher death rate. According to a report published by Reuters, the highly infectious variant that has spread around the world is between 30 percent and 100 percent more deadly than other dominant COVID-19 variants.In the UK study, published in the British Medical Journal on Wednesday, infection with the new variant resulted in 227 deaths in a sample of 54,906 COVID-19 patients, compared with 141 among the same number of patients infected with other variants.
“Coupled with its ability to spread rapidly, this makes B.1.1.7 a threat that should be taken seriously,” said Robert Challen, a researcher at Exeter University who co-led the research.
Recall that the variant was first detected in Britain in September 2020. It has since been discovered in more than 100 other countries.
The variant has 23 mutations in its genetic code – a relatively high number – and some of them have made it far easier to spread.
Scientists say it is about 40 percent to 70 percent more transmissible than previous dominant variants that were circulating.
Independent experts said this study’s findings add to previous preliminary evidence linking infection with the B.1.1.7 virus variant with an increased risk of dying from COVID-19.
Lawrence Young, a virologist, and professor of molecular oncology at Warwick University said the precise mechanisms behind the higher death rate of the B.1.1.7 variant were still not clear, but “could be related to higher levels of virus replication as well as increased transmissibility”.
The virologist warned that the UK variant was likely fuelling a recent surge in infections across Europe.
source: Punch
