Since then, the U.K. variant has been detected in China and other countries, as well as in Colorado and California. Viral variants are new versions of a virus that arise as a result of small changes in its genetic code. Preliminary data suggest that the new variants are no more likely to cause severe illness than the more familiar forms of the coronavirus. How will scientists know for sure if these new variants spread more easily? Animal studies involving an earlier coronavirus variant convinced some scientists that its particular mutations made it more infectious, said Dr. William Hanage, a Harvard T.H.

Source: Mint January 01, 2021 03:22 UTC