Mutated, More Transmissible Coronavirus Found in Colorado
December 30, 2020 8:27AM EST
Coronavirus particle, illustration. Different strains of coronavirus are responsible for diseases such as the common cold, gastroenteritis and SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome). A new coronavirus (2019-CoV) emerged in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. The virus causes a mild respiratory illness that can develop into pneumonia and be fatal in some cases. The coronaviruses take their name from their crown (corona) of surface proteins, which are used to attach and penetrate their host cells. Once inside the cells, the particles use the cells’ machinery to make more copies of the virus.
In a first for the United States, a mutated strain of the coronavirus has turned up in Colorado.
A man in his 20s has been diagnosed with the new strain, which Colorado health officials fear is more infectious than its predecessor.
“There is a lot we don’t know about this new COVID-19 variant, but scientists in the United Kingdom are warning the world that it is significantly more contagious,” says Colorado Governor Jared Polis. “The health and safety of Coloradans is our top priority and we will closely monitor this case, as well as all COVID-19 indicators, very closely.”
What would happen if it turned out the vaccine isn’t effective against the mutated virus?
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