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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is investing almost $200 million to help better identify and track coronavirus variants. Currently, the federal agency maps the DNA no more than 0.5 percent of all positive samples of the virus. But, described as a ‘down payment,’ officials say the money will help scale-up the number … Read more
A hybrid version of the coronavirus has surfaced in California after the UK’s Kent variant and a strain found in the US merged together inside an infected person. The variant, which has not yet been named, has been spotted once in California but scientists say there are likely to be more cases. It has not … Read more
Scientists discover SEVEN worrying homegrown coronavirus variants with nearly identical mutations in the US Scientists have discovered seven coronavirus variants with nearly identical mutations to their spike proteins in the US Two have gained ground in Louisiana and Mississippi, but the variants, known by their 677 mutations have been spotted in numerous states Scientists aren’t … Read more
British scientists are developing a ‘universal Covid-19 vaccine’ that would effectively beat all variants of the virus and could be ready in as little as a year. Researchers at Nottingham University are working on a jab that targets the core of the disease – rather than the spike protein – because it is less likely … Read more
Washington, DC has reported its first cases of two highly contagious ‘super COVID’ variants that are sweeping the United States. Dr Laquandra Nesbitt, director of the District of Columbia Department of Health, announced on Thursday that three residents are confirmed to have the UK variant and one patient has the South African variant. Nesbitt said … Read more
AstraZeneca is on track to roll out a new booster vaccine that will tackle coronavirus variants by autumn, the firm said today. Its current Covid vaccine, developed by Oxford University and being rolled out en masse in Britain, targets earlier versions of the virus. Growing evidence suggests that while the jab in its current state stops … Read more
Britain’s hotel quarantine scheme came under fresh criticism on Sunday when it emerged 35 countries where mutant coronavirus strains have been found are not on the list. Earlier this week, the Government confirmed that all passengers from 33 ‘red list’ countries would have to quarantine for ten days in a hotel from February 15. But … Read more
Britain is at the ‘forefront’ of developing vaccines to fight new Covid variants by ‘second guessing’ future mutations, the UK’s Vaccine Taskforce boss says, amid plans to offer jabs to all adults by May – not just the over-50s. Clive Dix told BBC Radio 4’s Today it was ‘absolutely’ possible to produce a vaccine that … Read more
Critically ill Covid-19 patients with weak immune systems who spend months battling the disease are likely sources of mutant variants, a new study confirms, Experts have previously been unable to pin down the exact way in which new strains emerge but thought them may evolve in immunocompromised patients. It was thought protracted infection applies a … Read more
SAGE warned only mandatory hotel quarantine for all UK travellers would ‘come close’ to to stop new strains entering the country, it has emerged. In a recommendation made on January 21, Government scientists said anything other than a ‘complete closure of borders’ or isolating every visitor in designated facilities would be took weak. SAGE’s unusually frank … Read more