U.K. COVID-19 Variant Causes ‘More Severe Illness,’ Study Says

U.K. COVID-19 Variant Causes, ‘More Severe Illness,’, Study Says.

A new study published in the journal ‘Nature’ has found that the U.K. COVID-19 variant is not only more transmissible but more deadly.

The study took a look at data from almost 5,000 COVID-19 deaths in the U.K. and found that two-thirds of those deaths were confirmed to have the variant, B.1.1.7.

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Those infected with B.1.1.7.

Were at a 55 percent higher risk of dying within 28 days of testing positive for COVID-19.

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Another recently published study found similar results; people who tested positive for B.1.1.7.

In a community setting were more likely to die within 28 days.

Thankfully, the COVID-19 vaccines appear to be highly effective against B.1.1.7., making fast vaccine rollout even more vital.

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B.1.1.7.

Was first detected in the U.K. last fall and sparked the country’s second wave of infection in the winter.

The U.K. experienced a devastatingly high number of deaths, leaving them with the second most COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 in the world.

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With B.1.1.7.

Already having spread across the globe and even expected to become the dominant strain in the United States, lead author Nick Davies hopes his study can “serve as a warning.” .

The B.1.1.7 variant is more transmissible, and our research provides strong evidence that is also causes more severe illness.

This should serve as a warning to other countries that they need to remain vigilant against B.1.1.7, which has already spread to over 90 countries worldwide, Nick Davies, via ‘Forbes’