SARS-CoV-2 variants

Florida has reached more than 50% of B.1.1.7 among new cases, but is NOT seeing a surge in overall number of cases. Much the opposite, the numbers keep dropping. Factors include hotter/wetter weather (both decrease transmission), natural immunity, and vaccinations. It is estimated that either through natural infection or vaccination or both, 40% of Floridians are now immune to the ancestral strain of the SARS-CoV-2, and the B.1.1.7 although more infectious and more lethal, is fully susceptible to antibodies produced by previous disease or vaccination. It is looking like in the fight between vaccines and variants, we're winning and we may NOT have a fourth surge! Great news! Still worthy of being vigilant (given that there's also the P.1 and the B.1.351 going around in the US and these are less susceptible to the ancestral antibodies) but it is indeed looking good, given that Florida is the state with the most B.1.1.7 so if it isn't causing a surge there, maybe it won't cause one, anywhere.

 

Some evidence has surfaced that the P.1 variant is harsher on younger people than the ancestral strain. Authorities in Brazil are seeing the curve of age groups slowly showing more young people among the victims of Covid-19, as the new variant spreads more.

In Brazil, since the beginning of the pandemic, 622 children between the age of 0 and 5 have died, and an additional 157 children between the ages of 5 and 12 have died. Just today a 7-month old baby died. 11,628 children had to be hospitalized, and 1 in 4 ended up in an ICU. There is an acceleration. 24% of deaths and 22% of the hospitalizations in children have occurred in the last 3 months.

This is sad.

This link is in Portuguese but I guess one can use Google Translate:

https://www.em.com.br/app/noticia/g...rre-em-decorrencia-da-covid-19-em-betim.shtml

 

Psychobabble supports the official narrative.

Plandemic is the word.

 

The CDC has declared the Californian variant a Variant of Concern (it's actually two very close subtypes, named B.1.427/B.1.429). They appear to be 20% more infectious and less susceptible to vaccines and monoclonal antibodies (although still sufficiently susceptible to the vaccines).

 

A new variant from the Philippines, not yet labeled a Variant of Concern, which does have the E484K mutation, was found in 33 subjects in the Philippines and 2 in England.
We should get used to this kind of news. They'll be popping up everywhere.

 

The first case of the P.1 variant was found in Brooklyn, NY, in a 90-year-old patient with no history of travel.

 

Seems like the B.1.1.7 is not more lethal, after all:

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(21)00170-5/fulltext

 

A new variant in South Africa, C.1.2, has between 44 and 59 mutations, the farthest from the original virus, of all variants. This variant is still being studied to determine if it is more infectious, more lethal, or better at evading antibodies fostered by vaccines or prior infection.

https://www.mdedge.com/obgyn/articl...ge_eNL_090121_F&ecd=wnl_evn_210901_mdedge_8pm

 

Fingers crossed

 

That was a very outdated post...
The B.1.1.7 a.k.a. Alpha is old news...
Meanwhile, other than then new South African strain, still to receive a Greek letter, there's the Mu as well.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/mu-new-coronavirus-variant-vaccines-south-america-europe-181933324.html

 

@CenterField good info dump, thanks