Medical experts explain presence of UK variant in Maryland amid pandemic
In Maryland, health officials are talking about the spread of the U.K. variant. But how is it different than the older strains? And is it more transmissible in children?
|| COVID-19 updates | Maryland's latest numbers | Get tested | Vaccine Info ||
Experts said it’s hard to tell exactly how prevalent the variant is in Maryland because doctors don't do the sequencing or genetic testing on every coronavirus case, but the evidence shows it's increasing in the state and around the country.
“I think it has the potential to be the dominant virus,” said Dr. Andrew Pekosz, of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
The B117 mutation, otherwise known as the U.K. variant, is making its mark in Maryland with cases on the rise.
The big difference between the variant and the older strains of COVID-19 is it's 50%-65% more transmissible between people and even more concerning.
“We have new data that's telling us that it’s not only more transmissible, it’s also causes more severe outcomes in terms of death and hospitalization, so it causes increased mortality in individuals that get it,” said Dr. Matthew Laurens, of the University of Maryland School of Medicine.
What isn't totally clear yet is whether it’s more transmissible or dangerous to children.
“The initial report from the U.K. showed that the virus was much more transmissible in a couple of populations but particularly so in children. It hasn't held up as much in other countries where the U.K. variant seems to have emerged. It seems to be equally more transmissible irrespective of age in other countries,” Pekosz said.
The good news is all of the vaccines approved in the United States work on the U.K. strain, preventing serious illness or death. Doctors said the key is to keep it under control until the number of people vaccinated gets higher.
“A lot of people have estimated as soon as we get above the 50% of population being vaccinated that we should start to really see an effect in terms of case numbers being reduced in terms of vaccinations,” Pekosz said.
So, until then, doctors are urging folks to stay the course, wear your masks, wash your hands and continue socially distancing so the state doesn’t have another surge.
“This might reverse the ground that we've gained as far as reducing transmission and spread in Maryland, so it is serious and it’s something we should be concerned about,” Laurens said.
As of Tuesday, a little over 15% of Maryland’s population are fully vaccinated.
