New California Variant. More transmissible.

Mindy D · ‎05-23-2010

A new homegrown California COVID-19 variant has been shown to be much more transmissible than earlier strains. The variant first emerged in California in the spring.

A new study analyzed 2172 virus samples from California and found that it has become predominant there and cases of it are doubling every 18 days.

Lab studies found the variant to be 40% better at infecting human cells compared to earlier strains. Additionally, those that tested positive for the variant had twice the viral load in their throat and nasal passages as those with other strains. This could mean that those infected could more easily spread the virus.

Even more troubling is that lab experiments also found that antibodies in people who had been infected with other strains of the novel coronavirus or who had been vaccinated against COVID-19 were less effective at "neutralizing" or disabling the California variant. This could possibly affect vaccine efficacy against the variant, but this is unknown so far.

There is also some early evidence** from a very small sample that the strain may be deadlier than earlier strains. 300 cases of B.1.427/B.1.429, the technical name of the variant, in San Francisco were analyzed and it was found that those infected with the California variant were much more likely to die than those infected with other coronavirus strains. Twelve people died in the small sample study and these results might be **statistically insignificant.

Early data from California suggests that B.1.427/B.1.429 may be up to 24% more transmissible than earlier strains according to a report in the The Los Angeles Times.

Additionally, medical records from 324 patients at UCSF clinics with COVID-19, adjusted for age, gender, and ethnicity, were examined, comparing the patients with California strain to other patents with other strains. Those with the California variant were 4.8 times more likely to be admitted to ICU and were 11 times more likely to die.

The variant is predicted to quickly become the strain accountable for 90% of new cases. In just over five months this new strain has already grown to account for more than 50% of all the virus samples used for genetic sequencing in California.

on the bay · ‎03-09-2010

How wonderful-what's next?!

Can't worry more than already have so can't worry anymore.

"If you walk the footsteps of a stranger, you'll learn things you never knew. Can you sing with all the voices of the mountains? can you paint with all the colors of the wind?"

Mindy D · ‎05-23-2010

@on the bay wrote:
How wonderful-what's next?!
Can't worry more than already have so can't worry anymore.

@on the bay @I'm thinking that we are going to be playing a long term game of variant catch up with this virus. We'll probably be getting booster shots, maybe every six months, at the rate we are seeing these emerging strains. I'll be double masking and I'm looking at face shields too. I had vaccine #2 on Tuesday. We can only be hopeful and continue to do our part to lessen transmissions. Sorry to convey bad news, but I'll be back with any good news I find as well. Stay safe and hopeful.

Lali1 · ‎08-21-2014

@on the bay wrote:
How wonderful-what's next?!
Can't worry more than already have so can't worry anymore.

This is just more scare news. I'm sick of it. Like you said what else can we do than what we have been doing. I'm done being afraid and worried about everything under the sun.

SusieQ_2 · ‎03-27-2012

When I hear the words, "California Homegrown," covid has never been something that comes to mind. Here's to hoping it stays that way.

suzyQ3 · ‎03-09-2010

I am very concerned about what I'm hearing about this California variant. As I've posted, we had our second dose on Sunday. I was planning on resuming in-store grocery shopping in two weeks. Now I just don't know what to think. Obviously, the concern is this variant's ability to bypass antibodies.

~Who in the world am I? Ah, that's the great puzzle~ Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

suzyQ3 · ‎03-09-2010

@SusieQ_2 wrote:
When I hear the words "California Homegrown" covid has never been something that comes to mind. Here's to hoping it stays that way.

@SusieQ_2, if it becomes dominant, I'm afraid that it will invariably show up elsewhere. In fact, it may have already.

~Who in the world am I? Ah, that's the great puzzle~ Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

teganslaw · ‎03-11-2010

If I worried about every variant and strain announced, I would have a nervous breakdown. I plan on going about my life and keep on doing what has been working for me. Will be getting my second vaccine next week and still take precautions. Not much else I can do, so I won't worry about something that MIGHT happen.

"The more I learn about people, the more I like my dog."

Mark Twain

SusieQ_2 · ‎03-27-2012

@suzyQ3 wrote:
@SusieQ_2 wrote:
When I hear the words "California Homegrown" covid has never been something that comes to mind. Here's to hoping it stays that way.
@SusieQ_2, if it becomes dominant, I'm afraid that it will invariably show up elsewhere. In fact, it may have already.

I'm sure it's made it's way to many places and made many people very happy @suzyQ3 .

But we're talking about two different things, lol.

On a serious note, I totally understand your concern. All I can say is that I'm not yet eligible for the vaccination but will continue to shop and do errands following all the safety guidelines we've been given. So far so good!

I'm very happy you've had both doses now! Even so, you need to do what's best for you and yours.

PJinIA · ‎03-21-2010

@Lali1 wrote:
@on the bay wrote:
How wonderful-what's next?!
Can't worry more than already have so can't worry anymore.

This is just more scare news. I'm sick of it. Like you said what else can we do than what we have been doing. I'm done being afraid and worried about everything under the sun.

I guess I'm one of the "idiots" frequently referred to here but I've lived my life pretty close to normal for the past year while following all the rules. I know a dozen people who got the virus and lived to tell the tale with minimal symptoms. At some point we have to move forward. I'm afraid they've instilled so much fear in people that some are going to worry themselves to death long before Covid gets them.