WHO says India Covid variant of 'global concern'

[Celerity]

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-57067190

The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified the coronavirus variant first found in India last year as a "variant of global concern". It said preliminary studies show the B.1.617 mutation spreads more easily than other variants and requires further study.

The variant has already spread to more than 30 countries, the WHO says. Three other variants from the UK, South Africa and Brazil have been given the same designation.

A mutation is elevated from a "variant of interest" to a "variant of concern" (VOC) when it shows evidence of fulfilling at least one of several criteria, including easy transmission, more severe illness, reduced neutralisation by antibodies or reduced effectiveness of treatment and vaccines.

The variant is being studied to establish whether it is responsible for a deadly surge in India, which is currently overwhelming hospitals and crematoriums. India reported 366,161 new infections and 3,754 deaths on Monday, down from record peaks. Experts say the actual figures could be far higher than reported.

snip

[FarPoint]

1. I'm ready to get in line for my Booster....

Say around September for me...got my first Moderna in December....

[ananda]

3. I'll take it whenever it's offered.

...

[FarPoint]

4. Actually...

If it comes out sooner than September.. I'm going to get in line.

[womanofthehills]

11. I read Moderna and Pfizer were already testing boosters on the original study group but

Everything I read said the boosters would protect against the African & Brazilian strains. Nothing I can find about if they will add the Indian strain which is already in US. Over 300 cases of B.1.167 in US and a case of the double mutation variant B.1.167.2 just found near Los Vegas

LOS VEGAS (KTNV) — The Southern Nevada Health District has identified the first known case of the B.1.617.2 coronavirus variant in Clark County.
https://www.ktnv.com/news/coronavirus/coronavirus-variant-b-1-617-2-found-in-las-vegas-area

[FarPoint]

12. I so hope they can tweak the vaccine for the India strain!

I still practice my ritual covid-19 protocols....this one is worse than previous strains, the India strain...

[OilemFirchen]

2. No worries.

Neutralizing antibody titters are showing great promise. Don't laugh.

[Celerity]

6. that poster refused to post links, personally attacked me, the OP (they savaged the OP repeatedly),

and others, plus made truly massive claims with no backing up of said claims, and repeatedly used appeal to authority logical fallacies. They also went all cleverclogs, using misdirection to try and subject slide and evade posting any evidence once again, in response to a fairly detailed rejoinder I cast their way. Then, when I backed up my simple statement (the tool they tried to use to slide and evade) about the the efficacy of the AZ vax versus the B.1.351 South African variant with a peer-reviewed scientific article from the NEJM, and also showed that I had a fairly decent basic grasp on viral mutations and the spike-protein/ACE2 binding interaction process, they poofed. At the end of the day, they refused to provide even one link, zero third party validation, and, in so many words, implied I was too stupid to understand the god-like heights they wander in, ie. Reddit groups.

So colour me not a fangirl.

[OilemFirchen]

7. I think you know this, but...

that was snark to your benefit.

[Celerity]

9. oh, I was unsure, and just wanted to vent anyway, LOL, but thanks!

[Treefrog]

10. Yeah, that whole exchange was so odd.

Not your side of it, just the evasion of the other poster when challenged on his position. I’ve never heard “cleverclogs” but what a wonderfully descriptive term!

[Hugin]

13. If it makes you feel any better, Celerity.

You're one of the few COVID situation posters on DU I take half way seriously outside of those who post raw facts.

Which is saying quite a bit.

[Celerity]

14. aw, thank you so much for the kind words

I just try to approach each separate part of the pandemic with as much clarity and reason-based enquiry as I can muster up. Sometimes I succeed, sometimes I fail.

[Hugin]

15. It's the "reason-based enquiry" which makes the difference.

Sorely lacking and quite frankly a lost art.

Yeah, sometimes we're all wrong.

[Skittles]

8. HAHAHA OMG I IMMEDIATELY THOUGHT OF THAT POST

YES INDEED

[Treefrog]

5. Frightening.

We’re a long way from seeing the end of this scourge.