THE NEW STRAIN: More contagious than before, but susceptible to vaccines (ABSTRACT)



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The new strain of the virus is more contagious than before. This is its most characteristic feature. It appeared in September but was identified a month later, in October, virologists say. At the beginning of December, there were already over a thousand cases in England. Experts insist that it is quite possible that the new version of COVID-19 is now circulating around the world, including our country. However, it remains to be seen if this mutation is more dangerous to our health and if it leads to more deaths.

“The data we have is still scarce,” said Health Minister Kostadin Angelov, adding: “What we know for sure about the new strain of the virus are two things. The first is that it is transmitted faster than the new coronavirus. And the second is that it is affected by the new vaccine. “

BAS: It is recommended to vaccinate healthy people over 16-18 years of age.

The doctors union called for calm until enough scientific information was gathered.

“Right now we don’t need hysteria and panic. Change, we knew it all year. We still have to see how it will react to the human body. As far as I know, a drastically more severe course and drastically higher mortality has not been reported.” , Dr. Ivan Madjarov is categorical.

The virus has no interest in abrupt changes in the clinical picture, experts say.

“The purpose of the virus is to spread, not kill us. The fact that a virus spreads faster does not in any way mean that it should cause more serious illness and higher mortality. Very often the opposite is the case,” said Professor Radostina Alexandrova, virologist at BAS.

More countries are suspending flights from the UK

So far, virologists have observed more than 13,000 mutations in the coronavirus. In each of them, between 7 and 10 changes were found. In the latter, however, they reach 17, which makes the new strain more visible than the others. However, this does not mean that it would be different.

“The virus is changing and this is part of its survival and adaptation strategy. 01; 21 Scientific evidence will be found whether it actually facilitates the spread between people or is not the result of several coincident events, “said Professor Alexandrova.

What is known about the new coronavirus mutation

And immunologists insist that vaccines are primed for such a mutation in the coronavirus.

“Both the type of vaccine used and all those currently on the market are based on the peak protein, the protein that mutates the most and that has been found to be different from previous strains.”, Immunologist Prof Andrey Chorbanov is also categorical.

The new strain has already reached several countries outside of the UK. Cases have been reported in Denmark, the Netherlands, Italy and Australia. According to the doctors, the new mutation is almost certainly already in Bulgaria. “There is no reason to hope that he has not come to our country and is hiding. The fact that it exists in other European countries suggests that this movement will not stop, “said Professor Chorbanov.

The virus mutation will not stop, experts say. And this will not be your last change.

New strain of COVID-19 continues to spread outside the UK

Low record number of new infected by coronavirus in our country. By the last day, the new cases are only 166. They are based on fewer tests done over the weekend: 790. This means that positive samples represent 21 percent of all tests done.

1731 people were cured and 536 remained in intensive care units. There are 58 deaths from complications of the virus.

READ ALL ABOUT CORONAVIRUS IN OUR COUNTRY AND THROUGHOUT THE WORLD HERE

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