Coronavirus mutation found in US may be less deadly, expert says

[brooklynite]

Source: The Hill

A coronavirus mutation that has been found in the U.S. may be less deadly but more infectious than the original virus, an expert from Singapore said this week.

Paul Tambyah, the senior consultant at the National University of Singapore, said the D614G mutation has been associated with lower death rates, which implies it is less deadly, Reuters reported Monday. This mutation has been located in Europe and North America as early as in February and has since been confirmed in parts of Asia.

“Maybe that’s a good thing to have a virus that is more infectious but less deadly,” Tambyah, the president-elect of the International Society of Infectious Diseases, told the news service.

The infectious disease expert said most viruses become less deadly over time as they mutate to allow the virus to keep living off the individuals.

Read more: https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/512521-coronavirus-mutation-in-us-maybe-less-deadly-expert-says

[hellno45]

1. If its been around since Feb I'm not sure the 170,000 who have already died would agree

but in most cases when a virus becomes more infectious it is less deadly, hope they're right.

[LisaL]

2. Yep, it adapts and evolves to infect as many people as possible.

Being more infectious but less deadly certainly achieves that goal. But I think we pretty much had this mutant virus from the start, so our deaths is with less deadly virus.

[stopdiggin]

6. yep. on both points. (nt)

[Ferrets are Cool]

8. Bingo!!

[MySideOfTown]

3. Maybe it is the way

some states count the mortality. See Iowa, Florida, Texas counts vs New York, New Jersey, Pa, Mich, Ill et al.

[Historic NY]

4. They already said the virus makeup on the west coast was different...

than the east coast, base on where people entered the country from. Ny Metro area had at least 8 varieties from European countries.

[stopdiggin]

5. speculative. but good news.

we're still in our infancy regarding solid evidence on the pathogen. Science takes time.

(one of my major reservations -- not just here but throughout the crisis -- is that the data is just very incomplete -- at best. Some of the "studies" are barely studies at all -- a lot of the testing and reporting is -- sloppy, fragmented, and frankly horrid. Look at mess in the U.S.)

[Initech]

7. I predicted this is going to end just like influenza.

Seems that we are headed that way right now. My theory is that it will be around a long time, but it will keep mutating into something less and less as time goes on and we'll eventually be able to introduce treatments and shots to deal with it.

[Warpy]

9. This is true of many viruses, the more lethal, the less contagious

Others, like HIV, mutate into different strains but remain as lethal as the original because of the systems it infects.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if a less lethal but more contagious strain is favored with this virus.

[dalton99a]

10. Most viruses weaken over time

It seems COVID-19 is headed that route