How dangerous is India’s ‘double mutant’ COVID-19 variant?

How dangerous is India’s ‘double mutant’ COVID-19 variant?

Here we go again....

Links:
https://www.aljazeera.com/features/...ed-about-indias-double-mutant-covid-19-strain
https://www.sfchronicle.com/local/article/Double-mutant-coronavirus-variant-surfaces-16076361.php
https://www.usnews.com/news/health-...coronavirus-variant-detected-in-san-francisco
https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/double-mutant-covid-19-variant-found-in-the-bay-area/2509887/

OK, all I want to know now is whether or not the vaccines we have in the United States today will protect us from this 'double mutant'.

 

I want to thank you very much for starting this thread. Good work.

I am going to give the short, safe answer for now: since we are way too close the event horizon vis-a-vis this new so-called "double mutant", it is going to take some weeks to see how this thing develops, unfortunately. Just to clear up any misconceptions, it's not like this is a variant that is two mutations all rolled up in one, but rather, two separate mutations, similar to each other, that sprang up at the same time. So, people who dubbed this "double mutant" did the world no big favor.

The two mutations have been labeled and categorized as E484Q (very similar to the Brazilian mutation) and L452R, which is also appearing in California.

In both cases, the mutations can change the spike proteins, thus making it easier for both to attach to cells in the human body.

This is of course sparking the question in my brain as to whether a human being can catch both mutations at once. That would be, frankly, a horror scenario.

Interestingly enough, on my bigly Covid-19 thread, I just noticed that two of the three regions in India that are experiencing the double-mutation wave are now once again on strict lockdown. Why the third region is not yet on lockdown is pretty much anyone's guess, but I would suspect that federalism is playing a role here much as it plays a role in the USA, Germany and other countries. For the first time in it's C19 history, India blew past +100,000 fresh infections in just one day making it the second nation to have achieved this gruesome marker, after the USA.

And your question at the end of your OP is a very justifiable question. Indeed, with each "next generation" of mutations, getting farther and farther away from the original "wild" form of the virus, the statistical probability that the current slate of vaccines may not be as effective will likely rise.

Again, good work starting this thread and thank you for providing the links. I read all of them.

Stat

 

Well, following the lead of Saint Anthony and wearing 2, 3, 4 masks or more, the double or triple headed virus should be no problem.

 

You will stop laughing when government begins locking people in their homes with armed guards outside.

 

Hadn't heard of this one. Thanks for the information.

 

Do you live in North Korea?