Covid-19: The New Mutant Strain in Society

The COVID-19 pandemic is an ongoing threat which has hit the world sometime at the end of 2019. The year 2020 has passed countering COVID-19, with the world going into lockdown possibly for the first time. However when the entire mankind was ready to welcome the New Year with optimism, the information regarding a new corona virus strain being identified in the United Kingdom (UK) created an environment of ambiguity and fright. The mystery of the mutation among the COVID-19 strains still remains unsolved. Nevertheless vaccine development and distribution drives are conducted across India, with the deliberate efforts of the government. However it is the lack of knowledge about the new strain (code named as B.1.1.7.) which has driven people into worries. Let’s try to understand the Mutated UK virus strain: To start with; what does this new mutant mean? As defined by WHO (World Health Organization) mutation is a process during which a virus replicates or makes copies of it and sometimes changes its traits too. Moreover, a virus that has one or a number of new mutations is referred to as a “VARIANT” of the original virus. UK is facing the challenge of this new variant of COVID-19 virus. The infection is spreading like firestorm once again. This has forced the authorities to declare a complete lockdown with way more strict rules and restrictions. Realization of its Existence The world first came across the confirmed cases of the new variant by the mid of December 2020. The authorities immediately confirmed that it was ‘out of control’. Experts have reservation that the new strain has been actively going around the region since September. However no one could identify its co-existence as there were no large-scale infections. According to reports, around 60 % of the patients in the UK have already been infected with the new variant. Is it a major reason of concern? Health experts and prominent pharmaceutical companies, across the globe elucidate that the new variant is supposedly more contagious however there is no substantiation as of yet that claims it to be more incurable. They also suggested people to not take it carelessly as it has just about two dozen mutations, and some are on the spiky protein that helps virus to adhere to and infect cells. New Vaccine for New Strain? Scientists across the globe judge, that there is no evidence about current vaccines, positioned in the UK and other countries cannot protect against the variant. However, pharmacological efficacy of accessible vaccines on the new mutation is a subject to further research. The first counter of the new variant of Covid-19 was reported in Britain. Regrettably, the mutated version is now present in several countries including Denmark, the Netherlands, Australia, Italy, Sweden, France, Spain, Switzerland, Germany, Canada, Japan, Lebanon, and Singapore. This blog is exclusively intended for educational/informational/awareness rationale. It is not an alternative for any professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult your doctor/healthcare professional before acting on the information provided on the blog. Dependence on any or all information provided in the blog is solely at your own risk and responsibility.