The California coronavirus mutant has now become a variant of concern for U.S. Centers for Disease Control. In plain English, this escalation means CDC must now take specific actions, including officially notifying World Health Organization. And it must also implement regional and local action to manage the emerging situation.
Three Categories of Variant in the Mind of CDC
Centers for Disease Control follows a structured approach to managing U.S. public health. Their system includes three categories of variant for purposes of managing their implications:
1… Variants of interest behave differently in terms of their response to antibodies, and the efficacy of vaccines too. They may also be more infectious, and cause more serious illness.
2… But variants of concern, on the other hand are more widespread, and with proven resistance to treatment. There is also evidence they are increasing hospitalizations and / or deaths.
3… Finally, variants of high consequence resist known prevention and medical countermeasures. CDC would be obliged to declare a public health emergency of international concern in this case. And implement strategies to contain transmission, and also update guidelines for treatments and related vaccines.
What’s Different About the California Coronavirus Mutant?
Firstly the California coronavirus variant has two lineages, namely B.1.427 and B.1.429. And secondly, it now joins the other variants of concern first notified in South Africa, Brazil and UK. This development reinforces the need for every citizen to avoid infection, and help prevent the spread.
A study by researchers affiliated to University of California in San Francisco found the California coronavirus mutant in 21% of 2,172 samples. However this is still pending peer review, although the credentials appear impeccable.
Study participant Dr. Charles Chiu is director at UCSF-Abbott Viral Diagnostics and Discovery Center, among other roles. He told New York Post ‘We managed to obtain some evidence that this is a more infectious variant. That doesn’t necessarily prove, but does suggest that it may be more infectious.’
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