U.K. COVID-19 Variant Causes, ‘More Severe Illness,’, Study Says.
A new study published in the journal ‘Nature’
has found that the U.K. COVID-19 variant is not only
more transmissible but more deadly.
The study took a look at data from almost
5,000 COVID-19 deaths in the U.K. and
found that two-thirds of those deaths were
confirmed to have the variant, B.1.1.7. .
Those infected with B.1.1.7. were at a 55 percent higher risk of dying within 28 days of testing positive for COVID-19. .
Another recently published study found
similar results; people who tested positive
for B.1.1.7. in a community setting were
more likely to die within 28 days.
Thankfully, the COVID-19 vaccines appear
to be highly effective against B.1.1.7., making
fast vaccine rollout even more vital. .
B.1.1.7. was first detected in
the U.K. last fall and sparked
the country’s second wave of
infection in the winter.
The U.K. experienced a devastatingly high
number of deaths, leaving them with the second
most COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 in the world. .
With B.1.1.7. already having spread across the globe and even
expected to become the dominant strain in the United States, lead
author Nick Davies hopes his study can “serve as a warning.” .
The B.1.1.7 variant is more transmissible, and
our research provides strong evidence that is also
causes more severe illness. This should serve as
a warning to other countries that they need to
remain vigilant against B.1.1.7, which has already
spread to over 90 countries worldwide, Nick Davies, via ‘Forbes’