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UK COVID Variant Will Likely 'Sweep the World,' British Scientist Warns

VOA News

   A British scientist says the coronavirus variant first discovered in
   that country late last year has "swept the country" and will "sweep the
   world in all probability."
   Sharon Peacock, the head of the COVID-19 Genomics U.K. consortium, made
   the prediction Wednesday during an interview with the BBC.
   The more transmissible strain was first detected in the southern
   British county of Kent back in September, and has since been identified
   in more than 50 countries, including the United States.
   The COVID-19 Genomics U.K. consortium tracks the genetic mutations of
   the novel coronavirus. Peacock said the newly developed vaccines are
   effective against the current mutations, but she warned that scientists
   will be tracking new mutations at least for the next decade until the
   virus "mutates itself out of being virulent."
   A new study suggests an inhaled steroid commonly used to treat asthma
   symptoms appears to reduce the need to hospitalize someone infected
   with COVID-19.
   Scientists at Britain's Oxford University conducted a month-long study
   of 146 patients with early symptoms of the novel coronavirus. Half of
   the patients were administered an inhaler containing budesonide, while
   the other patients received the usual care.
   The scientists discovered the majority of patients given budesonide not
   only avoided hospitalization, but also recovered faster and had fewer
   lingering symptoms.
   The study, which has not been peer reviewed, was launched after
   researchers discovered that patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary
   disease, or COPD, were significantly underrepresented among
   hospitalized COVID-19 patients in the early days of the pandemic.

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