Variants of COVID-19 Are Spreading Across the U.S.

Key Takeaways

Where Has the New COVID-19 Variant Spread in the U.S.?

Daniel C. DeSimone, MD, associate professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, tells Verywell that one variant currently in the U.S. is the B.1.1.7 variant, which was first seen in the United Kingdom.

The U.K. variant is a variant of concern because not only is itmore transmissible, but also may cause more severe COVID illness.

The variants that have been found in the U.S. so far are:B.1.1.7—first identified in the U.K.B.1.351—first identified in South AfricaP.1—first identified in Japan and BrazilB.1.427andB.1.429—first identified in California

The variants that have been found in the U.S. so far are:

States with Most Variant Cases

More Easily Spread

DeSimone, who is also an infectious disease specialist at the Mayo Clinic, says that theU.K. variantspreads more easily and might be more likely to cause death than the initial COVID virus.

What Europe’s Recent Surge in COVID-19 Cases Means for the U.S.

According to DeSimone, the U.K., South Africa, and Japan/Brazil variants can spread more easily because they have certain mutations involving the surface spike protein on the virus that helps it attach to human cells.

The spike protein mutation “allowed these variants to emerge within populations” says DeSimone, adding that the variants are estimated to be between 20% and 50% more transmissible depending on the individual variant.

More Severe Illness

James M. Musser, MD, PhD, chair of the Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine at Houston Methodist Hospital and Research Center, tells Verywell that the B.1.1.7 variant also causes more severe illness.

James M. Musser, MD, PhDVaccination is the best way to decrease the number of circulating COVID-19 variants that could be getting around.

James M. Musser, MD, PhD

Vaccination is the best way to decrease the number of circulating COVID-19 variants that could be getting around.

“A fair number of publications out of the United Kingdom show that it’s a little bit more virulent than non-B.1.1.7 variants," says Musser, adding that the variant is responsible for between 55% and 60% of new cases of COVID in Houston and that the area has seen a higher rate of hospitalization in patients who contract it.

Genetic Clues

The spread of the B.1.1.7 variant has plateaued now, but in March, Musser and his colleagues published a preprint article outlining their work sequencing the genetics of variants of the virus.

U.K. COVID-19 Variant More Deadly Than Other Strains, Researchers Say

After analyzing nearly 9,000 genome sequences of virus in patients from eight hospitals in January and February, the researchers determined that cases of the B.1.1.7 variant were doubling every seven days in the Houston area.

Do the COVID Vaccines Work Against Variants?

The number of people who are fully vaccinated against COVID continues to grow as eligibility to receive one of the three available vaccines (Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson) expands.

The Biden Administration has a goal to lift all restrictions on who can receive thevaccine on April 19. Several states, including Texas, have already expanded vaccine eligibility to any person over the age of 18.

Ask an Infectious Disease Expert: Will COVID-19 Vaccines Work Against New Variants?

Even with more shots in arms, the new variants are still a concern because some of them appear to be slightly more resistant to the vaccines. “We are keeping our eyes on these variants very closely and the type of disease that these variants cause,” says Musser.

DeSimone adds that “because these circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants contain mutations in the surface spike protein, its impact on vaccine efficacy is a concern.”

What the Evidence Shows

Current evidence suggests that both the Pfizer andModerna vaccinesare effective against the B.1.1.7 variant, but potentially less effective against the B.1.351 variant.

Will the New COVID-19 Variants Increase Reinfection Rates?

Musser says that “vaccination is the best way to decrease the number of circulating COVID-19 variants that could be getting around. We need to get a lot larger percent of our population vaccinated.”

DeSimone agrees, saying that “vaccinationand herd immunity will prevent outbreaks and control the spread of the virus in populations."

CDC Establishes New Threat Levels for COVID-19 Variants

While we will likely keep seeing reports of new variants, DeSimone says that “with herd immunity, the risk of significant outbreaks should be extremely low.”

What This Means For YouSeveral variants of the virus that causes COVID-19 are spreading throughout the United States. Some of the variants are more transmissible than the original virus that circulated at the start of the pandemic, which is driving a surge of cases this spring.The best thingyou can do to protect yourselfis to get vaccinated and continue to follow safety guidelines such as face mask-wearing, social distancing, and practicing frequent, proper hand hygiene.

What This Means For You

Several variants of the virus that causes COVID-19 are spreading throughout the United States. Some of the variants are more transmissible than the original virus that circulated at the start of the pandemic, which is driving a surge of cases this spring.The best thingyou can do to protect yourselfis to get vaccinated and continue to follow safety guidelines such as face mask-wearing, social distancing, and practicing frequent, proper hand hygiene.

Several variants of the virus that causes COVID-19 are spreading throughout the United States. Some of the variants are more transmissible than the original virus that circulated at the start of the pandemic, which is driving a surge of cases this spring.

The best thingyou can do to protect yourselfis to get vaccinated and continue to follow safety guidelines such as face mask-wearing, social distancing, and practicing frequent, proper hand hygiene.

3 Sources

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).About variants of the virus that causes COVID-19.

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