But this virus that first emerged in the city of Wuhan, China, in December 2019, has rapidly evolved and undergone several significant mutations during the pandemic. When a virus has many mutations (changes acquired in the virus’s genetic material), they are known as variants of concern (VoC). It, therefore, came as no surprise that the virus that emanated in Wuhan underwent multiple mutations during the pandemic. And as time went on, the virus accumulated mutations and moved further away from the original virus. It has also been used to develop diagnostics and vaccines, and to understand how the virus transmits around the world.

Source: News 24 March 05, 2021 04:52 UTC