The mutant strain "Yota", which first appeared in New York, has a higher mortality rate-Chinanews.com

　　Recently, American scientists published an article on the biomedical preprint website that compared with the previous variant strain of the new coronavirus, the variant strain of the new coronavirus "Yota", which was first discovered in New York, USA in November 2020, has greater infection. Sexual and immune escape tendency, and can increase the mortality rate of elderly infected persons by 62%-82%.

　　The "Yota" mutant strain (B.1.526) was first discovered in New York City in November 2020.

At present, the virus has spread in all 52 states of the United States and 27 countries around the world.

　　Studies have shown that this mutant strain is moderately resistant to therapeutic monoclonal antibodies and vaccine/infection-inducing antibodies.

In addition, there is evidence that this mutation does not increase the risk of breakthrough infection in individuals who have been vaccinated or previously infected.

　　The results of the study show that compared with the previously circulating new coronavirus mutant strains, the infection rate of "Yota" has increased by 15%-25%, and there is still no more than 10% immune escape in the infected population.

Moreover, the infection mortality rate of the mutant strain in the middle-aged and elderly population has increased significantly, compared with the previous baseline mortality rate of the mutant strain, infection in the infected population of 45-64 years old, 65-74 years old and over 75 years old Mortality rates have increased by 46%, 82%, and 62%, respectively.

　　In addition, compared with the previous COVID-19 variant strain, the mortality rate after infection with the "Yota" variant strain has increased by an average of 60%, which is equivalent to the estimated value of the alpha variant strain.

　　The researchers said that although this study has not been peer-reviewed, it emphasizes the importance of monitoring the epidemiological characteristics of variant strains of the new coronavirus to better respond to the new coronavirus epidemic.

(Producing Guo Shihao)

Editor in charge: [Ji Xiang]