Yet another highly virulent new strain of COVID has recently been identified, and experts say it could be even more infectious than the ones that preceded it—including the U.K. variant that's now been found in four U.S. states. The new COVID strain, which was first identified in South Africa, could pose a serious risk to many Americans, according to Anthony Fauci, MD, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and leading member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force. In an interview with Newsweek, Fauci said it was likely that the new strain of COVID—dubbed 501.V2—was already in the U.S., despite the fact that experts "have not detected the South African strain" in the country yet. Read on to see what else Fauci had to say about the new South African strain, and why it's cause for concern. And for insight into where coronavirus cases are on the rise, This State Now Has the Worst COVID Outbreak in the U.S.
"I would be surprised if it were not already in the United States, but you never know until you find it, and then prove it's here," Fauci told Newsweek. He said that, if by some chance it's not already in the U.S., it's inevitable that it'll come to America as people begin to move more freely between countries again. "Sooner or later it will get here," Fauci said.
In addition to its highly contagious nature, among the biggest concerns about the 501.V2 COVID strain is that the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines being administered in the U.S. may not be as effective against it. However, Fauci noted that the existing U.S. vaccines are "very flexible," explaining that it would only take a few months to modify them for maximum efficacy against the South African COVID strain.
While Fauci said the vast majority of virus mutations are "meaningless," he acknowledged that the medical community is on high alert for any new strains that could set off a surge of new infections. "Every once in a while you get a mutation that does have clinical significance. And that's the reason why you need to continually monitor these changes," Fauci explained.
Read on to find out what else experts are saying about the South African COVID strain and what can be done to prevent its spread. And if you're eager to get your COVID shot, know that The FDA Just Ruled You Can't Do These 4 Things With the COVID Vaccines.
