New Covid Variant - B.1.1.529

[Swwils]

It is not fair to say it is more transmissible, we don't know that yet.

For instance, most the cases are in an area with low vaccination rates and also relatively low numbers of delta cases, so there wasn't much covid around for it to "outcompete".

It's very unlikely that any variant totally evade the vaccines and the latest science on this variant is very encouraging that the vaccine is still extremely effective against severe disease. Which isn't surprising because the vaccine is polyclonal.

 

[Notch7]

So the Kent variant was FAR more transmissible than the original Covid virus

The Delta variant is FAR more transmissible than the Kent variant

the Omicron variant could be far more transmissible than the Delta variant.


How forking transmissible can a virus be

Surely the Zeta variant will be so transmissible, when an Aussie guy in Sydney sneezes somebody in Stoke On Trent catches it.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

How forking transmissible can a virus be

Surely the Zeta variant will be so transmissible, when an Aussie guy in Sydney sneezes somebody in Stoke On Trent catches it.

When we arrive at the last letter, Zeta, will the virus run out of options to vary.

 

[IT Minion]

How forking transmissible can a virus be

The Delta variant is estimated to have an R0 of around 5.

Measles has an R0 of around 12-18, it's often called one of the most infectious diseases around.

There's room to be more infectious.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Zeta is the sixth letter (already missed), Omega is the last.

If people don't know that, or haven't bothered to look, how reliable are other things they write?

It varies depending on the version of Latin, because letters were added and removed, but the most common is seventh letter. Modern Latin alphabet is the English language alphabet and 26th.

 

[IT Minion]

Trust DIYNot to focus on the absolutely least interesting part of the new variant.

 

[Mottie]

A jab every 6 months for ever and ever, or let the human immune system adapt?

You mean like the human immune system has adapted to the HPV virus? How's that going?

 

[Notch7]

A jab every 6 months

Tablets for high blood pressure are taken every day.

what point are you making? Are you too busy to spend 10mins having a jab?

 

[JohnD]

Latin

?

 

[Notch7]

Named Covid variants:

Alpha (Kent variant)
Beta (South Africa variant)
Gamma (Brazilian variant)
Delta (Indian variant)
ETA (Nigerian variant)
Iota (New York variant)
Kappa (Indian variant)
Lambda (Peru variant)
Omicron (South African variant)



Nu was missed out…as it might confusingly be referred to as the New Variant……


there are 2 classifications:

variants of interest
variants of concern

https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n1971

 

[EFLImpudence]

Interesting - or strange - that they were all first identified from May to December in 2020 but not in order of the letters.

 

[EFLImpudence]

Also - the article begins with:

"Eight notable variants of SARS-CoV-2 have been found since September 2020. Elisabeth Mahase reviews the line-up so far."

Yet Beta was identified in May 2020.

 

[denso13]

Also - the article begins with:

"Eight notable variants of SARS-CoV-2 have been found since September 2020. Elisabeth Mahase reviews the line-up so far."

Yet Beta was identified in May 2020.

You could respond to the article and point that out?

 

[ajohn]

This list is more informative
https://www.gov.uk/government/publi...ts-distribution-of-case-data-26-november-2021

It gives info on cases where they have been found.

 

[ajohn]

As of today masks are back.