Highly contagious coronavirus strain is now dominating, new study finds

NIRMAL YESODA

A new study conducted by researchers at the Houston Methodist Hospital has revealed that a highly contagious strain of coronavirus is now dominating. Scientists made this conclusion after analyzing 5,000 genomes from viruses recovered from Houston in the time of the initial outbreak, and later comparing it with an ongoing recent wave of infection.

The research report revealed that almost all strains in the second wave had a mutation named D614G, and which is characterized by increasing the number of spikes in the crown-shaped virus. It should be noted that spikes play a crucial role in increasing the ability of the virus to infect cells.

Researchers noted that patients who are infected with the new strain had higher amounts of virus in their body. However, researchers did not find any evidence that links the D614G with increased mortality. According to researchers, coronavirus usually turns deadly among people who have underlying medical conditions.

A few weeks back, another study conducted by researchers at Zhejiang University had claimed that coronavirus has mutated to more than 30 different strains.

The discovery literally shocked healthcare experts, as they had underestimated the mutation capabilities of this deadly pathogen. Experts revealed that finding an overall cure for coronavirus could be difficult, as different strains of the virus has affected people in different parts of the world.