Interesting Medical Article25 Feb 2021 13:11
“Trending Clinical Topic: COVID Hurricane
Ryan Syrek
DISCLOSURES February 19, 2021
Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, recently went on NBC's Meet the Press and told host Chuck Todd that he believes that the COVID-19 pandemic is about to worsen in unprecedented fashion. Pointing to the rise in cases associated with variant strains of coronavirus, he predicted that a "hurricane is coming." Describing it as "category 5 or higher," Osterholm used the analogy to urge a dramatic increase in vaccination efforts. The so-called "COVID hurricane" may be fueled by various factors (see Infographic below) and is this week's top trending clinical topic.
Atop the list of causes for an oncoming storm is a rise in coronavirus mutations. The B.1.1.7 variant, first identified in the United Kingdom, is becoming the dominant strain in many European countries and is doubling every 10 days in the United States. Its transmission rate is 30%-40% higher than that of more common lineages, and it may increase the risk for death by about 30%. The B.1.351 variant that emerged out of South Africa has also been reported in various countries, including England, without known links to travel. Brazil has identified two variants, P.1 and P.2. The P.1 variant has been detected in the United States, Germany, the Faroe Islands, and elsewhere.
The response of various vaccines to these new forms of the coronavirus is a concern. For example, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine demonstrated only 57% overall efficacy in South Africa against moderate to severe SARS-CoV-2 infection. Novavax reported an efficacy rate of 49.4% from a clinical trial conducted in South Africa, compared with 89.3% seen in a UK study. Whether the vaccines will struggle as new mutations emerge, such as the one recently identified in Bristol, is part of the potential "hurricane" on the horizon.”
Ref. MedScape.com
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