Mutation in Coronavirus

Coronavirus has created a pandemic situation in the world. It has already shown its deadly capabilities to make the whole world suffer. Recently, it was discovered that this virus is capable of mutation and I will discuss about that in this article.

Researchers in UK and US have identified that there are hundreds of Coronavirus mutations that can cause COVID-19. However, it has not yet been determined how this mutation will affect the spread of the virus and how a vaccine can affect it. Every virus mutates and same goes for Coronavirus. Hence, scientists and medical experts must examine whether this mutation can cause severe damage or not. Researchers in the US have revealed that there is one notable mutation in the Coronavirus known as D614G that is becoming dominant and is capable of making the disease much more infectious. Researchers in New Mexico are accurately tracking the changes in the “spike” of the Coronavirus that gives it its special shape. This is done by using the database known as the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID). They have found that this particular mutation makes the virus grow at a much faster rate, but the consequences are yet unknown.

Some patients from Sheffield who are carrying this mutated Coronavirus have been tested and it was found that though the amount of the virus is more in their samples, there is no report of them becoming more sick or staying in hospital longer than normal Coronavirus patients.

The mutation in the virus is not dangerous until it causes deadly effects on patients. It is also considered that this mutation can actually help in creating the vaccines against this deadly Coronavirus.