What is the latest data on the strains of the new Corona virus "Covid-19? And should we be more careful in the open air with the spread of copies of the new Corona strains? Why do mutated Corona virus strains have strange names? And how has the Corona pandemic affected children."

The answers and more in this comprehensive report.

Let's start with the good news, as a study - reported by Le Parisien newspaper - showed that infection with the South African strain may immunize a person against other strains.

This strain is known by more than one name: “B. 351.1 ″ (B.1.351) and“ VE 501.2 ”(501. V2).

Le Parisien newspaper and other websites say - in its report - that according to the scientists, the plasma of people who were infected with the mutated South African strain has "good neutralizing activity" against "first wave" viruses, and against the new mutated strains of concern, it seems.

This study was conducted by a scientific team from South Africa, who discovered this mutated strain, but it was not evaluated by the scientific community and included only a small number of people.

However, it has raised hope for a vaccine based on this mutated version that is able to protect against future mutations in the Corona virus.

According to the data of this study, provided by a group of scientists gathered in the Genome Monitoring Network - South Africa, only 4% of the 55 people who were actually infected with the mutated South African strain were unable to overcome their infection with the original strain of the emerging coronavirus.

"The South African strain can generate a high level of antibodies that are able to neutralize the virus," virologist Tolio de Oliveira explained - in a video conference.

This specialist also reported an immune response that was superior to that of the other mutated strains.

"Le Parisien" stated that at the conference, South Africa's Minister of Health, Zwaili Mkhize, described the discovery as "good news for everyone," saying that it represented hope for speeding up control of the epidemic.

According to this study, it was found that the antibodies generated by the mutated South African strain were 100% effective against the Brazilian mutated strain, in a very small sample of 7 patients.

"The results (of this study) indicate that there is a high rate of success if we manufacture (a vaccine) based on the mutated South African strain," said Salim Abdul Karim, an epidemiologist and senior advisor to the South African government.

Brazilian strain causes re-infection

Scientists are closely following a new strain of corona spotted in Brazil, known as "B.1.1.1.248" (B.1.1.248). Researchers have been able to slow the spread of this strain since its discovery in late December, but they are not sure of the extent. Its severity, according to a report published by the American newspaper "New York Times" by Carl Zimmer.

Currently, 3 studies provide information on the widespread prevalence of this mutant in the Amazonian city of Manaus.

The researchers suggest that the mutant that appeared in Brazil in November has led to a record increase in the number of cases of Coronavirus, but this mutant also acquired the ability to infect some people who had acquired immunity and had previously been infected with the "Covid-19" virus.

And laboratory experiments indicate that the B1 mutant could weaken the effectiveness of the Chinese vaccine currently used in Brazil.

The new studies have not yet been published in scientific journals, and their authors warn that results related to experiments on cells in laboratories do not always reflect reality, as they are only beginning to understand the behavior of the P1 mutant.

"The results apply to Manaus, but I don't know if they apply to other places," said a virologist at Imperial College London who helped lead many of the new research.

But even with the mystery still surrounding the P1 mutant, experts have said it should be taken seriously.

"It is right to be concerned about this mutation, because this data gives us cause for concern," says Harvard epidemiologist William Hanag.

Dr Varia and his colleagues published a description of the P1 mutant at an online virology forum on January 12, and then investigated why the P1 mutant had spread, whose mutations might have made it more contagious.

Coronavirus infection for the second time is usually rare, because the antibodies produced by the body after infection are only effective for several months, but the P1 mutant may carry mutations that have made it difficult for those antibodies to fight it, allowing them to pass into cells and cause new infection.

By pooling genome data, antibody and medical records in Manaus, the researchers concluded that the P1 mutant had invaded the city thanks to the mutations it witnessed.

Similar to the British BP 7.1.1 (B.1.1.7) strain.

The Brazilian strain can infect an average of a large number of people, compared to other strains, and researchers also estimate that it is more contagious compared to other Corona virus strains.

Should we be more careful outdoors with the spread of new Corona strains?

Richard Lessels, an infectious disease specialist at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, told Vox that "based on evidence, we still believe that the risk of outdoor transmission is much lower than indoor transmission, and there is no reason." To believe that new mutated strains may change this equation dramatically. "

According to the Fox site report, writer Segal Samuel said that an ideal sequence of events must occur in order for the virus to be transmitted from an infected bystander to you while in the open air.

In fact, bystanders should spray enough particles to transmit the infection, and the virus inside the particles should be able to survive in a place where sunlight, wind and other forces kill it.

As a result, the particles must reach the upper throat or respiratory system or land on your hand that you use after that to touch your eyes, nose or mouth, and they must overcome all barriers that prevent infection in the respiratory system, such as the hair and mucus of the nose, then they must join To your cell receptors and use them to enter your cells.

Even considering what we have learned in the past months about transmission through the air, this sequence is very tedious.

"The volume of gas distribution inside outer space, especially with the wind factor, makes this risk very low. The mutated strains may be more transmissible, but the physics has not changed," said virologist Moog Civic.

Therefore, close or prolonged contact with others or places with many people should be avoided even if they are outdoors.

Why do mutated virus strains have strange names?

In their report, published by the New York Times, the authors Aporva Mandaville and Benjamin Muller indicated that the rules for naming viruses may be appropriate in the context of research that is limited to the scientific community, but that the general public needs simpler names.

"The challenge is to create independent, well-defined names that do not include geographical references and are easy to pronounce and memorize," said Emma Hodcroft, a scientist specializing in molecular epidemiology at the University of Bern.

She added that the solution is to create a unified system for all, and link it to systems that are predominantly technical in nature on which scientists rely.

To achieve this, the World Health Organization has formed a task force of a few dozen experts.

"The new system will give the worrisome mutants a name that is easy to pronounce and remember, and it will reduce unnecessary negative impacts on countries, economies and people. This proposal is currently under review by internal and external partners before finalizing it," its explanatory statement said.

Scientists name mutants when the appearance of changes in the genome coincides with a new outbreak of the disease, but they do not reveal them unless a change in the behavior of the virus is observed (such as the "B.1.1.7" mutant that is more easily transmitted, which was first detected in Britain), or It partially avoided the immune response (such as B1. 351 in South Africa).

The problem is that in the absence of easy alternatives available, people have resorted to replacing "B1. 351" with the name of the South African mutated strain, but a member of the WHO working group, scientist Tolio de Oliveira, pleaded with his colleagues to avoid that term.

The potential harms of these labels are serious enough that it has forced some countries to stop admitting that a new pathogen has been discovered within their borders.

Dr. de Oliveira added that geographical names quickly lose their legitimacy, as the B.1351 mutant has been detected in 48 countries so far, which nullifies the term "South African mutated strain."

This practice can upset the scientific aspect as a whole.

It is not clear whether the mutant originated in South Africa, especially since its discovery was the result of the diligence of the region’s scientists, but describing it as a specific country mutant could mislead other researchers from overlooking its possible path of spread in South Africa from another country that was following a number Below are the Coronavirus genomes.

How did corona affect children?

We conclude with a warning to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in which it said that since the beginning of the "Covid-19" pandemic, at least one out of every 7 - or 332 million children worldwide - has lived for at least 9 months under stay-at-home policies. Recommended in various states, putting their mental health and psychological well-being at risk.

The warning came in a press release in which UNICEF summarized the conclusions of a study in which data from the Government and Oxford Response Tracker to "Covid-19" was used.

According to the new analysis, 139 million children worldwide have lived under stay-at-home orders required nationwide for at least 9 months since COVID-19 was classified as a pandemic on March 11, 2020, which means they are required to stay. At home with few exceptions, including children who live in countries like Paraguay, Peru and Nigeria.

The rest of the 332 million - or 193 million - lived under the recommended nationwide stay-at-home policies for the same length of time.

"With the nationwide closures and movement restrictions imposed on the pandemic, a long year has passed for all of us, and especially for children," said UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore.

She added that "when you are, day after day, away from your friends and loved ones, and you may be stuck at home with an abusive person, the impact is great."

She explained that many children feel fear, loneliness and anxiety about their future.

"We should emerge from this pandemic with a better approach to the mental health of children and adolescents, and that starts with giving the issue the attention it deserves," she said.

According to the World Health Organization, the "Covid-19" pandemic has caused the disruption or suspension of critical mental health services in 93% of countries around the world, while the demand for mental health support is increasing.

In this context, the UNICEF Executive Director called on countries to invest significantly in expanding mental health services, and supporting young people and their caregivers in communities and schools.

"We also need expanded parenting programs to ensure children from vulnerable families get the support and protection they need at home," she said.