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3 Theories to Explain Why the Mutant Coronavirus Is More Transmissible
Scientists are racing to understand why the B.1.1.7 variant spreads more easily
The most worrying feature of the mutated coronavirus variant known as B.1.1.7 is that it’s more transmissible, meaning people infected with this variant can spread it more easily to others. Experts estimate that this strain, first identified in the U.K., is at least 50% more transmissible than the dominant strain. Last week in the Coronavirus Blog, I wrote about the different mutations identified in B.1.1.7’s genome, and what changes they might be causing in the virus itself.
Scientists are working to figure out how these mutations work in tandem to cause the variant to act differently, leading to increased transmission. Linda Saif, PhD, a virology expert and co-director of the Ohio State University Infectious Diseases Institute, explained to the Coronavirus Blog that while it isn’t yet known why B.1.1.7 and the B.1.351 variant (first identified in South Africa and also in circulation) are more transmissible, researchers have proposed several theories, all of which warrant further investigation.
