The new mutants: COVID-19 variants continue to impact the world

Janiece Glover, M.S.
September 22, 2021
3D representation of coronavirus particles.
Licensed from istockphoto.com

It’s the virus that swept the world by storm. It’s the virus that steadily keeps the beds in the intensive care unit occupied. It’s the virus that successfully and repeatedly shut down a portion of our lives. SARS-CoV-2, better known as COVID-19 or the coronavirus, continues to impact communities around the world by aggressively attacking the respiratory tract of infected individuals resulting in a wide range of outcomes, from mild symptoms to severe illness to, in some cases, death.

While COVID-19 made its first appearance almost two years ago, past outbreaks of related viruses should have prepared us for the current pandemic, one that inevitably enhanced the visibility of science forever.

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that can cause respiratory illness. In fact, over the past two decades, the world has dealt with three coronavirus pandemics. SARS-CoV (severe acute respiratory syndrome) in 2002, MERS-CoV (Middle East respiratory syndrome) in 2012 and now SARS-CoV-2 in 2019. Research on these previous coronaviruses paved the way for a new approach to defeat these viruses, mRNA vaccines, and with the development of these vaccines came a glimmer of hope.

"The importance of getting vaccinated is at an all-time high, especially with the aggressiveness of the COVID-19 variants. Vaccines will provide a first-line of protection and give our immune systems a fighting chance!"

-- Janiece Glover

Just as things began to settle down, a new problem popped up. Variants. More vicious and aggressive than the original strain. Variants arise from mutations in the virus’ genetic code and can have a negative or positive impact on the virus’ ability to survive. While the emergence of variants didn’t come as a surprise to those immersed in the sciences, its enhanced contagiousness sure did! Yes, it’s true that viruses are prone to mutations. It’s the number one reason why doctors recommend that you get a new flu shot every year. But this left many people wondering, “How will these new COVID-19 variants impact our lives?”

To date, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has declared four major variants of concern in the U.S.: Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta. The Delta variant has dominated news headlines around the world and is now the prevailing variant, beating out all other variants due to its ability to replicate and spread more quickly.

But wait there’s more. There are several variants circulating around the world including Mu, Eta, Iota, Kappa, Lambda and an unnamed variant first identified in India. Although the CDC hasn’t officially designated these variants as a major concern to U.S. residents, they are still variants of interest and should be monitored closely.

The list of coronavirus variants has the potential to grow as long as there are active infections around the world. So what can we do about it? How can we combat a virus that seems to have no limitations? The CDC recommends the following to protect yourself and others against COVID-19 and its variants:

1.      Get a COVID-19 vaccine!
The CDC has approved and authorized the following vaccines: Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson. Administration of a third dose in certain immunocompromised individuals, or individuals at high risk for infection, is highly recommended.

2.      Wear a mask.
This prevents the transmission of droplets, containing viral particles, from infected individuals to healthy individuals.  

3.      Remain physically distant.
Stay six feet away from others, especially in crowded indoor spaces.

4.      Maintain daily hygiene.
Clean your hands often for at least 20 seconds or use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

5.      Monitor your health daily.
If you begin to experience any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19, visit your local emergency facility to receive the appropriate care.

The importance of getting vaccinated is at an all-time high, especially with the aggressiveness of the COVID-19 variants. Vaccines will provide a first-line of protection and give our immune systems a fighting chance! Unvaccinated people are continuing to give COVID-19 a wide-playing field to replicate between the mases of unvaccinated people at unmasked large gatherings.

Let’s take control over this virus and its unwelcomed variants by taking away its opportunity to mutate and replicate. Equip yourself with the above guidelines and prioritize protecting yourself and others. Together we can effectively fight against COVID-19 and interrupt the spread and transmission of this virus once and for all.