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In each warm body it infects, the virus behind Covid-19 has the potential to change. Most of those changes are slow and inconsequential. But, in some people, the virus hits the jackpot.
That is seemingly what happened in Kent in September 2020 https://www.wired.co.uk/article/chronic-infection-uk-coronavirus-variant
That is seemingly what happened in Kent in September 2020 https://www.wired.co.uk/article/chronic-infection-uk-coronavirus-variant
If the genome of Sars-CoV-2 was a 30,000-character-long poem then the UK variant re-wrote its first line, drastically changing its meaning in the process.
Its emergence has presented an urgent question: how did the virus make this genetic leap, seemingly out of nowhere?
Its emergence has presented an urgent question: how did the virus make this genetic leap, seemingly out of nowhere?
The leading hypothesis is that the new variant evolved within just one person, chronically infected with the virus for so long it was able to evolve into a new, more infectious, form.
And now, months later, the world is scrambling to contain it
And now, months later, the world is scrambling to contain it
The new variant, B.1.1.7, has now been found in 75 countries and is spreading locally in Brazil, Canada, China, the US and most of Europe.
Up to 70 per cent more transmissible than other coronavirus variants, B.1.1.7 is now responsible for the majority of new cases in England
Up to 70 per cent more transmissible than other coronavirus variants, B.1.1.7 is now responsible for the majority of new cases in England
Chronic infections like the one that may have led to the B.1.1.7 variant are rare but can happen if the virus infects enough hosts.
Now, scientists are racing to understand the role that chronic infections might play in the emergence of new variants, and how to stop the next one
Now, scientists are racing to understand the role that chronic infections might play in the emergence of new variants, and how to stop the next one
The first example of the UK variant was found on September 20 in Kent and then another one day later, in a sample from Greater London.
But it was easy to miss. New variants of Sars-CoV-2 are created all the time and the vast majority of them go absolutely nowhere
But it was easy to miss. New variants of Sars-CoV-2 are created all the time and the vast majority of them go absolutely nowhere
It was only when it became obvious that lockdown measures in Kent were failing that scientists realised the outbreak was being driven by a new variant.
And it was spreading fast. Four cases of the variant were recorded in September, 79 in October. In November there were 828
And it was spreading fast. Four cases of the variant were recorded in September, 79 in October. In November there were 828
That's because the UK variant, with its 17 significant genetic changes, seemed to defy the logic of what we know about how coronaviruses evolve.
Read more on WIRED to find out how scientists are piecing together the puzzle of B.1.1.7's origins
https://www.wired.co.uk/article/chronic-infection-uk-coronavirus-variant
Read more on WIRED to find out how scientists are piecing together the puzzle of B.1.1.7's origins
https://www.wired.co.uk/article/chronic-infection-uk-coronavirus-variant
Images 1 and 3: Dan Kitwood / Getty Images Image 2: Henning Bagger / Getty Images
