Spring forward.
To delete this message, click the X at top right.

Covid Variants

We have ALL your misinformation, plus some TRUE FACTS and SCIENCE.
Post Reply
User avatar
Lani
Posts: 2507
Joined: Mon Feb 22, 2021 11:42 am

Covid Variants

#1

Post by Lani »

I guess we're in phase two of variants due to Delta. But wait - there's more!

Mutant of delta variant blamed for Nevada man’s rapid reinfection

The Nevada State Public Health Laboratory has identified a rare case of COVID-19 reinfection occurring just 22 days after the patient first tested positive.

https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/poli ... n-2455634/
The patient, an unvaccinated 31-year-old Mineral County man with no underlying health conditions, first tested positive for the delta variant and then, three weeks later, for a different strain that evolved from the delta variant, Mark Pandori, director of the lab at the University of Nevada, Reno’s School of Medicine, told the Review-Journal this week.

Infection from COVID-19 typically results in immunity from reinfection for a minimum of several months, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Such rapid reinfection, especially in a young and healthy individual, could mean that the virus has mutated to a degree that makes it more resistant than previously seen to the protection afforded by past infection or from vaccination.

:snippity:

The strain, a sublineage of delta known as AY.26, has 31 genetic differences from delta, including on the spike protein, the part of the virus targeted by vaccines, he said. It is this genetic variety that especially concerns him.

“My concern is that there’s a scientific rationale for this being indicative of a bigger problem,” said Pandori, whose lab in August 2020 reported the first known case of COVID-19 reinfection in North America.
Image You can't wait until life isn't hard anymore before you decide to be happy.
User avatar
Volkonski
Posts: 11592
Joined: Mon Feb 22, 2021 11:06 am
Location: Texoma and North Fork of Long Island
Occupation: Retired mechanical engineer
Verified:

Re: Covid Variants

#2

Post by Volkonski »

That's a scary bit of news. :eek:
“If everyone fought for their own convictions there would be no war.” ― Leo Tolstoy, War and Peace
User avatar
Lani
Posts: 2507
Joined: Mon Feb 22, 2021 11:42 am

Re: Covid Variants

#3

Post by Lani »

I've posted elsewhere on the forum about the new African variant. Here's the situation. Possibly, it goes nowhere (other than Hong Kong, Botswana & South Africa).
Scientists have said a new Covid variant that carries an “extremely high number” of mutations may drive further waves of disease by evading the body’s defences.

Only 10 cases in three countries have been confirmed by genomic sequencing, but the variant has sparked serious concern among some researchers because a number of the mutations may help the virus evade immunity.

The B.1.1.529 variant has 32 mutations in the spike protein, the part of the virus that most vaccines use to prime the immune system against Covid. Mutations in the spike protein can affect the virus’s ability to infect cells and spread, but also make it harder for immune cells to attack the pathogen.

The variant was first spotted in Botswana, where three cases have now been sequenced. Six more have been confirmed in South Africa, and one in Hong Kong in a traveller returning from South Africa.

Dr Tom Peacock, a virologist at Imperial College London, posted details of the new variant on a genome-sharing website, noting that the “incredibly high amount of spike mutations suggest this could be of real concern”.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/ ... -mutations
Image You can't wait until life isn't hard anymore before you decide to be happy.
User avatar
Volkonski
Posts: 11592
Joined: Mon Feb 22, 2021 11:06 am
Location: Texoma and North Fork of Long Island
Occupation: Retired mechanical engineer
Verified:

Re: Covid Variants

#4

Post by Volkonski »

“If everyone fought for their own convictions there would be no war.” ― Leo Tolstoy, War and Peace
User avatar
Volkonski
Posts: 11592
Joined: Mon Feb 22, 2021 11:06 am
Location: Texoma and North Fork of Long Island
Occupation: Retired mechanical engineer
Verified:

Re: Covid Variants

#5

Post by Volkonski »

“If everyone fought for their own convictions there would be no war.” ― Leo Tolstoy, War and Peace
User avatar
Volkonski
Posts: 11592
Joined: Mon Feb 22, 2021 11:06 am
Location: Texoma and North Fork of Long Island
Occupation: Retired mechanical engineer
Verified:

Re: Covid Variants

#6

Post by Volkonski »

“If everyone fought for their own convictions there would be no war.” ― Leo Tolstoy, War and Peace
User avatar
Lani
Posts: 2507
Joined: Mon Feb 22, 2021 11:42 am

Re: Covid Variants

#7

Post by Lani »

Australia is well prepared should a new COVID variant, which has experts alarmed, arrive in Australia, federal Health Minister Greg Hunt says.

South African scientists have detected a worrying new variant in the country.

So far only about 50 cases of the strain have been detected. But it is particularly worrying for scientists because it has double the number of mutations of the Delta variant, making them believe it might be less vulnerable to immunity from vaccinations.

Britain and Israel have already banned flights from six African nations, including South Africa and Botswana, as more cases of the fast-spreading variant are detected. They are yet to detect any cases of the variant, although it has been found in at least one Hong Kong case.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/coronav ... 2020211126

Things seem to be moving quickly.... A few days ago, 3 cases had been found. Now 50. Likely to rise quickly as more people are tested for it.
Image You can't wait until life isn't hard anymore before you decide to be happy.
User avatar
Suranis
Posts: 5831
Joined: Mon Feb 22, 2021 5:25 pm

Re: Covid Variants

#8

Post by Suranis »

The real question is whether this new variant is as dangerous as the old variants. If it wants up being less dangerous, this could be a benefit as it would swamp the old ones out. As happened with Swine flu.
Hic sunt dracones
User avatar
Lani
Posts: 2507
Joined: Mon Feb 22, 2021 11:42 am

Re: Covid Variants

#9

Post by Lani »

Suranis wrote: Fri Nov 26, 2021 2:06 am The real question is whether this new variant is as dangerous as the old variants. If it wants up being less dangerous, this could be a benefit as it would swamp the old ones out. As happened with Swine flu.
Good article on the 1918 pandemic and its continuing presence.

Why the 1918 Flu Pandemic Never Really Ended
https://www.history.com/news/1918-flu-p ... ever-ended
Image You can't wait until life isn't hard anymore before you decide to be happy.
User avatar
RTH10260
Posts: 14356
Joined: Mon Feb 22, 2021 10:16 am
Location: Switzerland, near the Alps
Verified: ✔️ Eurobot

Re: Covid Variants

#10

Post by RTH10260 »

Hong Kong records two cases of new variant

PUBLISHED : 26 NOV 2021 AT 13:32
WRITER: NEW YORK TIMES

The Hong Kong government said Thursday that it had detected two cases of a new variant identified in South Africa, which scientists have warned shows a "big jump in evolution" and could limit the effectiveness of vaccines.

The infections were detected in a man who had returned to Hong Kong from South Africa this month, and later in another man staying across the hall in the same quarantine hotel. (Hong Kong requires almost all overseas arrivals to quarantine in hotels for two to three weeks.) The virus’s genetic sequence was identical in both men, suggesting airborne transmission, according to the city’s Center for Health Protection. Both men were vaccinated.


https://www.bangkokpost.com/world/22221 ... ew-variant
Uninformed
Posts: 2095
Joined: Mon Feb 22, 2021 1:13 pm
Location: England

Re: Covid Variants

#11

Post by Uninformed »

Cassandra here.

I’m pretty much of the opinion that, given the level of international travel, by the time a variant is identified it is already “global”, albeit in limited numbers. All actions that can be taken are by their nature reactive; a “global lockdown” might be the most effective action but is totally impractical, and could be worse as different mutations could/would still develop in “isolated communities” and undoubtedly eventually spread.

Increasingly stunned by people’s refusal to follow the recommended precautions - hygiene, masks, vaccinations, distancing, and testing.
If you can't lie to yourself, who can you lie to?
somerset
Posts: 788
Joined: Mon Feb 22, 2021 12:06 pm
Occupation: Lab Rat

Re: Covid Variants

#12

Post by somerset »

RTH10260 wrote: Fri Nov 26, 2021 4:05 am
Hong Kong records two cases of new variant

The infections were detected in a man who had returned to Hong Kong from South Africa this month, and later in another man staying across the hall in the same quarantine hotel. (Hong Kong requires almost all overseas arrivals to quarantine in hotels for two to three weeks.) The virus’s genetic sequence was identical in both men, suggesting airborne transmission, according to the city’s Center for Health Protection. Both men were vaccinated.


https://www.bangkokpost.com/world/22221 ... ew-variant
https://www.asiaone.com/china/selfish-m ... 26/11/2021

‘Selfish mask’ guest in fquarantine hotel cross infection is Hong Kong’s first case of new coronavirus variant

A Covid-19 patient whose "selfish" valve-style face mask was blamed for a cross infection in a quarantine hotel last week has been found to be carrying a new variant of the virus with a high number of mutations, marking the first known appearance of the strain in Hong Kong.



The first patient was found to have worn a reusable mask featuring exhaust valves on multiple occasions when collecting meals and disposing of rubbish.

The masks' valves only filter air on the way in, but do not filter the air being exhaled by the wearer, prompting Hong Kong's leading microbiologist, Yuen Kwok-yung, to label them "selfish".

The CHP subsequently said people staying in any of the city's designated quarantine hotels would no longer be allowed to wear valve-style masks from Thursday onwards.

User avatar
Lani
Posts: 2507
Joined: Mon Feb 22, 2021 11:42 am

Re: Covid Variants

#13

Post by Lani »

It's in Israel now.

Israel detects its first case of new, highly mutated COVID-19 strain
2 other returnees from Malawi also suspected to have contagious B.1.1.529 variant; all 3 were vaccinated; PM calls meeting, urges purchase of PCR kits that better detect the strain
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-de ... 19-strain/

Now now there are 4 cases - that was fast.
Israel bars travel from most of Africa in effort against ‘worrying’ new COVID strain
With four possible cases of highly mutated B.1.1.529 variant detected in country, government tasks military with locating those who arrived from Africa over past week
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-ba ... id-strain/
Image You can't wait until life isn't hard anymore before you decide to be happy.
User avatar
Lani
Posts: 2507
Joined: Mon Feb 22, 2021 11:42 am

Re: Covid Variants

#14

Post by Lani »

Headlines keep popping up. This time, it's Belgium.

Nu B.1.1.529 COVID Variant Has Spread to Third Continent
A case of the COVID-19 variant, B.1.1.529, likely to be named the Nu variant, has been detected in Belgium, according to a local virologist.

Leading local virologist Marc Van Ranst confirmed on Twitter that one COVID-19 sample was confirmed as the new strain first detected in southern Africa.

"In Belgium, one sample was confirmed as the novel B.1.1.529 variant (in a returning traveller from Egypt (11/11); first symptoms on 22/11)," he wrote.
https://www.newsweek.com/nu-b-1-1-529-c ... pe-1653545

WHO is holding a special meeting about the variant today.
https://www.newsweek.com/new-heavily-mu ... ng-1653446
Image You can't wait until life isn't hard anymore before you decide to be happy.
User avatar
Volkonski
Posts: 11592
Joined: Mon Feb 22, 2021 11:06 am
Location: Texoma and North Fork of Long Island
Occupation: Retired mechanical engineer
Verified:

Re: Covid Variants

#15

Post by Volkonski »

“If everyone fought for their own convictions there would be no war.” ― Leo Tolstoy, War and Peace
User avatar
Volkonski
Posts: 11592
Joined: Mon Feb 22, 2021 11:06 am
Location: Texoma and North Fork of Long Island
Occupation: Retired mechanical engineer
Verified:

Re: Covid Variants

#16

Post by Volkonski »

Omicron.

“If everyone fought for their own convictions there would be no war.” ― Leo Tolstoy, War and Peace
User avatar
Volkonski
Posts: 11592
Joined: Mon Feb 22, 2021 11:06 am
Location: Texoma and North Fork of Long Island
Occupation: Retired mechanical engineer
Verified:

Re: Covid Variants

#17

Post by Volkonski »

“If everyone fought for their own convictions there would be no war.” ― Leo Tolstoy, War and Peace
User avatar
Volkonski
Posts: 11592
Joined: Mon Feb 22, 2021 11:06 am
Location: Texoma and North Fork of Long Island
Occupation: Retired mechanical engineer
Verified:

Re: Covid Variants

#18

Post by Volkonski »

“If everyone fought for their own convictions there would be no war.” ― Leo Tolstoy, War and Peace
User avatar
filly
Posts: 1724
Joined: Mon Feb 22, 2021 10:02 am

Re: Covid Variants

#19

Post by filly »

Renewed war on Fauci will follow.
User avatar
RTH10260
Posts: 14356
Joined: Mon Feb 22, 2021 10:16 am
Location: Switzerland, near the Alps
Verified: ✔️ Eurobot

Re: Covid Variants

#20

Post by RTH10260 »

It's all Obama's fault :twisted:
User avatar
RTH10260
Posts: 14356
Joined: Mon Feb 22, 2021 10:16 am
Location: Switzerland, near the Alps
Verified: ✔️ Eurobot

Re: Covid Variants

#21

Post by RTH10260 »

W. Kevin Vicklund
Posts: 2133
Joined: Tue Feb 23, 2021 4:26 pm

Re: Covid Variants

#22

Post by W. Kevin Vicklund »

I highly recommend Your Local Epidemiologist for Covid news and analysis.

On the topic of Omicron, this slide is a good summary of the potential impacts of the mutations:

Image

Some analysis by YLE: https://yourlocalepidemiologist.substac ... cTG1myCOt0
During their PCR tests, the viral loads were VERY high considering they were negative on previous PCR tests. They had a Ct value of 18 and 19 value. So, this tell us that B.1.1.529 is likely highly contagious.
:snippity:

Population-Level Data

There are preliminary signs that B.1.1.529 is driving a new wave in South Africa. Health officials are looking particularly at a region called Gauteng. In just one week, test positivity rate increased from 1% to 30%. This is incredibly fast.

Image

If we zoom out on South Africa as a whole, we see cases starting to exponentially increase. On Tuesday there were 868 cases, Wednesday there were 1,275 cases, Thursday there were over 3,500 cases. We do not know if these cases are all B.1.1.529, but the timing of explosive spread is suspect.
The transmissibility of this variant is what has me most worried. It's somewhere around 3-4 times more transmissible than Delta, according to one researcher.
User avatar
Suranis
Posts: 5831
Joined: Mon Feb 22, 2021 5:25 pm

Re: Covid Variants

#23

Post by Suranis »

Marvelous. Stopping flights NOW is a bit pointless as we are seeing infections that happened 10 days ago.

Can we just stop flying everywhere please? *frustrated waving of fist at the window*

Seriously, we as a human race are just too fucking mobile to contain a virus. AND if they stopped plane travel we would pretty much nail Global warming. Its killing us in multiple directions. I could rant all day about how much fuel Flying dumps into the atmosphere. Even going to turboprop would massivly reduce its footprint. Jets use so much fuel.
Hic sunt dracones
User avatar
p0rtia
Posts: 4918
Joined: Mon Feb 22, 2021 9:55 am

Re: Covid Variants

#24

Post by p0rtia »

On a more cautionary note, a whole buncha researches are saying there is zero information on 1) transmissability and 2) whether or not Omicron can successfully compete with Delta, which pretty much wiped out all other variants.

They're saying two weeks before they have any idea about the above. 100 days to tweak the vaccine if needed, and new booster for Omicron if needed, by summer.
User avatar
Volkonski
Posts: 11592
Joined: Mon Feb 22, 2021 11:06 am
Location: Texoma and North Fork of Long Island
Occupation: Retired mechanical engineer
Verified:

Re: Covid Variants

#25

Post by Volkonski »

“If everyone fought for their own convictions there would be no war.” ― Leo Tolstoy, War and Peace
Post Reply

Return to “COVID-19 and its several variants”