When you hear about variants, variants of concern,
variants of interest, mutations, double or
triple mutations, what does that mean?
And what action does the public need to take to protect themselves?
Hello and welcome to Science in 5.
I'm Vismita Gupta-Smith.
Giving us an update on variants today is
Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove.
Maria, give us an update on the variants that are
circulating right now.
Thanks for having me back.
There are several virus variants that WHO is tracking
around the world.
The SARS-CoV-2 virus, the virus that causes COVID-19, is evolving.
This is natural evolution and the virus is expected to change
the more the virus circulates around.
Currently, there are four variants of concern that WHO is
tracking around the world.
The B.1.1.7, which was first identified in the United Kingdom,
the B.1.351, which was first identified in South Africa,
the P.1 variant which was first identified in
Japan from travelers from Brazil.
And now we've recently classified the B.1.617,
which was first identified in India.
Now, it's really important that you look at the latest
information from WHO because this is a
fast changing situation.
The latest information we have on all of our variants of
interest and variants of concern that we are tracking
are released on our website in our
weekly epidemiological SitRep.
Maria, how does WHO classify a variant as a variant of
interest or a variant of concern?
Variants of interest have properties, have mutations
that have been identified that need further study.
Variants of concern have demonstrated changes.
For example, you may have
increased transmissibility, there may be a change in
disease presentation or severity, or there may be a
change in our ability to control the virus with public
health and social measures, or the use of diagnostics,
therapeutics and vaccines.
So the recent variant of concern, the B.1.617,
for example, has demonstrated increased transmissibility and
this is why this has been classified as a variant of concern.
So, you'll notice when I said a variant of concern, I named it
by a number, for example B.1.617,
and I didn't call it a country name variant.
It's really important that we don't do that.
We don't say country X variant, because that really
adds a stigma associated with these variants.
And it's important that surveillance is occurring
around the world and we detect these variants very quickly and
the information is shared so that it can be analyzed so that
we understand the potential implications once
they are identified.
What does this mean for the public?
It means that we need to do everything that we can to
prevent infections and reduce the spread of the
SARS-CoV-2 virus, whether it's a virus variant, a variant of
interest or a variant of concern or not, the SARS-CoV-2
virus can infect us and it can spread between people.
So, it means take all of the measures that you can to reduce
your exposure in the possibility of you getting infected.
It means physical distancing, avoiding crowded spaces,
spending more time outdoors than indoors.
If you are indoors, make sure that there's good ventilation.
It's about having clean hands and wearing a mask properly
over your nose and your mouth, practicing
respiratory etiquette, being well informed.
And no matter what you do know what your risk is and take
steps to lower your risk.
And lastly, when it's your turn, get vaccinated.
There are many studies underway studying the properties of each
of these variants of concern in terms of transmissibility,
severity and impact on diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines.
So far from the information that we have from the studies
that are underway and the results that are available,
the public health and social measures,
the diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines do
work against these virus variants.
We are learning every day and as soon as we have
more information, we will share this with you.
Thank you, Maria.
That was Dr Maria Van Kerkhove giving us an update on virus variants.
Until next time then.
Stay safe, stay healthy and stick with science.