Go Ad-Free
logoThe People's Perspective on Medicine

What Do We Know About Homegrown Variants of COVID-19?

Scientists are concerned that homegrown variants of SARS-CoV-2 may be more easily transmitted or more difficult to treat.

COVID-19 cases have been dropping for the past few weeks. Don’t count on the roller-coaster of infection going ever lower, though. Experts are concerned about the impact of variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus on the future of the pandemic. That’s partly because variant B.1.1.7, first discovered in the UK, is more easily transmitted and is spreading widely. Then there is the variant 501Y.V2. It appeared first in South Africa but has spread to other countries, including the US. This particular version of the virus carries a mutation of its spike protein that seems to make it less susceptible to immunization. However, public health authorities are also worried about homegrown variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Previously, they recognized several and named them after birds. Now there are some new ones causing trouble.

Where Have Homegrown Variants Been Identified?

A California Variant Is Spreading:

An infectious disease expert anticipates that a new California variant known as CAL.20C will soon dominate in the Golden State. Researchers watching for B.1.1.7 and 501Y.V2 identified this new version (JAMA, Feb. 11, 2021). The scientists have detected it in samples from 19 states, Washington, DC, and several other countries. This homegrown variant has five mutations.

People infected with CAL.20C have higher viral loads, so they are more contagious. This version of the coronavirus infects human cells more easily and appears to be more resistant to the antibodies generated by previous infections or vaccines. 

Alarms from New York:

Researchers at Columbia University have identified a homegrown variant in their own backyard, New York City. At the same time, scientists at CalTech have also taken a close look at this variant, named B.1.526 (BioRxiv, Feb. 23, 2021). The Columbia investigators have documented an alarming rise in prevalence to 12.3% over the past few weeks (MedRxiv, Feb. 25, 2021).

They observe

“its unique set of spike mutations may also pose an antigenic challenge for current interventions.”

Although it’s unclear how these homegrown variants will evolve, their presence means that Americans cannot let down their guards. Following CDC guidelines to prevent infection is still essential.

Rate this article
star-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-empty
4.1- 40 ratings
About the Author
Terry Graedon, PhD, is a medical anthropologist and co-host of The People’s Pharmacy radio show, co-author of The People’s Pharmacy syndicated newspaper columns and numerous books, and co-founder of The People’s Pharmacy website. Terry taught in the Duke University School of Nursing and was an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology. She is a Fellow of the Society of Applied Anthropology. Terry is one of the country's leading authorities on the science behind folk remedies..
Tired of the ads on our website?

Now you can browse our website completely ad-free for just $5 / month. Stay up to date on breaking health news and support our work without the distraction of advertisements.

Browse our website ad-free
Citations
  • Zhang W et al, "Emergence of a novel SARS-CoV-2 variant in Southern California." JAMA, Feb. 11, 2021. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.1612
  • West AP Jr et al, "SARS-CoV-2 lineage B.1.526 emerging in the New York region detected by software utility created to query the spike mutational landscape." BioRxiv, Feb. 23, 2021.
  • Annavajhala MK et al, "A novel SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern, B.1.526, identified in New York." MedRxiv, Feb. 25, 2021.
Join over 150,000 Subscribers at The People's Pharmacy

We're empowering you to make wise decisions about your own health, by providing you with essential health information about both medical and alternative treatment options.