Viruses mutate often. Most of the time the resultant virus is no worse.

Viruses mutate all the time. The same SARS-CoV-2 virus that started our current pandemic earlier this year has mutated over 12,700 times. A mutation can make a virus more or less virulent.

Study of COVID Mutations

https://www.newsmax.com/health/headline/coronavirus-spread-mutation/2020/11/25/id/998732/ The results were published this past week from reviewing 46,723 people with COVID-19 from 99 countries. The stark discovery is that the virus has mutated thousands of times and is no more virulent or contagious than it was at the beginning of the pandemic.

Visualization of Mutations

https://www.gisaid.org/epiflu-applications/phylodynamics/ This link shows the progression and a view of the mutations by country. Mutations occur often, and vaccines should be updated accordingly.

We noticed that some countries appeared to have the virus under control early and then the virus began to spread. And, conversely, some countries had a hard time early on and then seemed to gain control, even for a short time.

There is one village in central Vietnam that recorded the virus without transmission to anyone in the village for over 100 days. Shortly thereafter, it spread to almost a dozen cities in the nearby provinces. In hindsight, it was probably the virus mutating.

Current Assessment

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-020-19818-2 The final assessment stated, “We do not identify a single recurrent mutation in this set convincingly associated with increased viral transmission.” The study also reported that the viral mutations evolutionary induced by human immune systems.

The virus enters a human. The interaction with our immune system may cause minute changes in the RNA structure of the virus. It is then passed on to the next person as a mutated virus.

Conclusion

Nearly all the viral mutations analyzed appear to be neutral. The virus is not accelerated in its ability to spread, nor is it more virulent. Mutations will continue to be monitored and vaccines updated as significant changes as needed.

Live Longer & Enjoy Life! – Red O’Laughlin – RedOLaughlin.com

 

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