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| © News1 Designer Kim Il-hwan |
With the emergence of new corona 19 mutant viruses around the world, warnings from health experts continue.
Following the spread of a mutant virus originating from the UK to more than 80 countries, concerns are growing as mutant viruses have been discovered one after another in Brazil, Germany and the United States.
The mutant virus is more contagious than the existing virus and has the potential to impair the function of antibodies and vaccines, so it is predicted that the fight against Corona 19 will be longer.
◇The United States is troubled by the spread of mutations to East and West
The United States, which has the highest number of confirmed and fatalities, is suffering from mutant viruses in the eastern and western regions respectively.
According to the New York Times (NYT), a research team at Columbia University Medical Center discovered a new mutant virus in a virus sample collected in New York last 22nd. It is estimated that this mutation occurs spontaneously in New York, and the rate of occurrence in the last two weeks reached 12.7%.
The problem is that this mutant virus contained E484K in the spike protein, as well as mutations from South Africa and Brazil. This mutation was found to effectively avoid antibodies and increase resistance to vaccines.
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| Pfizer vaccine is being vaccinated in Hartford, Connecticut, USA on the 4th. © AFP=News1 |
NYT reported that those infected with the virus were about 6 years older than the average age of those infected with the existing Corona 19, and the proportion of hospitalized people was also higher.
Earlier, a new variant appeared in California as well. Experts estimate that the mutant virus could account for 90% of California’s infections by the end of next month.
Researchers at the University of California Medical School (UCSF) found that the mutation was not only highly contagious, but also avoided previously developed COVID-19 vaccines and antibodies produced by previous infections. It is also reported that it causes more serious diseases and has a high fatality rate.
◇”Concerns about the March spread”… Vaccination for the elderly is required
In the midst of this, health experts warned that the spread of infected people from the coronavirus virus could happen next month in the United States.
Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, appeared on CNN and said he was concerned about the situation in the second and third weeks of March.
“B.1.1.7, a mutant virus from the United States, is doubling every 10 days,” he said. “The virus gradually spreads up to 4, 6, and even 8 weeks, then suddenly spreads like a wildfire. “He explained.
Osterholm advised that millions of seniors aged 65 and older should complete the first dose of the vaccine as soon as possible, saying they are concerned that they will not receive the first dose of the vaccine until the end of next month.
◇Brazilian mutation, 3 times contagious… Also found in Germany and Finland
In Brazil, a new mutant virus has been reported that is three times more contagious than the existing virus.
Brazilian Health Minister Eduardo Pazuelho is concerned that the mutant virus is entering a new phase in the country’s COVID-19 infection situation.
In addition, a new mutant virus was discovered in a hospital in Bavaria, Germany in January, and a new mutant virus appeared in southern Finland.
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| In a temporary hospital in Guatemala, Latin America, a nurse prepares a modena vaccine injection. © AFP=News1 |
◇Vaccine, fear of losing effect on mutation… After each company responds
Concerns are raised that it may be insufficient to respond to the constantly evolving virus with existing vaccines.
In particular, in the case of mutations originating in South Africa, vaccines with good preventive effects such as Pfizer and Modena showed relatively low effects.
Modena said that the level of neutralizing antibodies in its vaccines dropped by about six times against the South African mutation. Pfizer revealed that the amount of neutralizing antibodies was reduced by two-thirds compared to the existing virus as a result of treatment of blood vaccinated against the South African mutant.
Accordingly, each company is starting one after another clinical trials of vaccines to prevent the mutant virus. Modena has started initial clinical work to produce mutations from South Africa, and researchers at Oxford University, UK, who develop AstraZeneca vaccine, also announced that clinical trials will begin in the summer.
National authorities are also simplifying various procedures to speed up development. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said that a vaccine against the mutant virus could be tested on a reduced scale.
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) also recommended that a large-scale safety and efficacy study is not required for pharmaceutical companies that want to change their vaccines to counter the mutant virus, and that at least one clinical trial should be conducted.