The new variants of the coronavirus are even more dangerous than those known so far. Researchers and politicians fear a sharp increase in the number of infections, with dramatic consequences like those seen in Britain. Can Germany still stop the new killers?
The student didn’t really stand out among the nearly 700 cases of the coronavirus recorded by the public health department in Berlin’s Steglitz-Zehlendorf district during the week before Christmas. The young woman was home for the holidays to visit her family, having traveled back to Germany from the university where she is studying in the United Kingdom. It appeared to be an everyday case of the coronavirus in the affluent southern part of Berlin.
Indeed, it wasn’t all that surprising she had caught the virus, given that infection numbers were skyrocketing in Britain at that point.
But the student also infected her entire family, five people, which is pretty uncommon.
Just as her infection was discovered, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson had begun sounding the alarm: B.1.1.7, the new and far more contagious variant of the virus, was spreading in southeast England, he warned. The response came quickly: Flights to and from Britain were cancelled and the Eurotunnel was closed to traffic. By then, though, the mutated virus had long since begun spreading across Europe.
It was by coincidence that an employee at the Steglitz-Zehlendorf public health department had experienced the ebola pandemic in West Africa and had also earned a doctorate in virology. Shortly before Christmas, she made a call to the laboratory at the Robert Koch-Institute (RKI), Germany’s center for disease control, and asked to have the genome sequence of the student’s positive viral sample decoded.
The result arrived on Jan. 7. The student was found to be carrying the new B.1.1.7 variant of the virus.
Then, last week, the first case of B.1.351, a mutant of the coronavirus from South Africa, was detected in the southern German state of Baden-Württemberg. It’s also thought to be much more contagious than previous variants. It had been brought into the state by a family that had arrived back from South Africa in mid-December.
The family had quarantined themselves as required under coronavirus regulations, and five days later they received a negative result after getting tested. But family members developed symptoms of the disease a week later. By then, six people from three different households had been infected.
In the neighboring state of Bavaria, there are also now three confirmed cases of coronavirus mutants and one suspected case. One patient who had become infected with the British variant was brought to a Munich hospital for treatment around the New Year has since passed away.
“The new variant of the virus has arrived in Germany,” says Clemens Wendtner, chief physician at the München Klinik hospital in Munich’s Schwabing district. It must be a feeling of déjà-vu for the physician, who also treated the very first known German COVID-19 patients last February. “The next few weeks will be decisive,” Wendtner says. “It’s possible that the pandemic will take on a whole new momentum.”
Image Credit: Phill Magakoe/AFP
Post by Amanda Scott, NA CEO. Follow her on twitter @tantriclens
Thanks to Heinz V. Hoenen. Follow him on twitter: @HeinzVHoenen
News
NIH Scientists Discover Gene Responsible for Rare Eye Disease
Findings supported by the NIH pave the way for the development of genetic testing, clinical trials, and therapies. Researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and their collaborators have discovered a gene linked to certain [...]
Alzheimer’s Breakthrough: Synthetic THC Pill Proves Effective in Clinical Trial
Patients tolerated synthetic THC (dronabinol) well, without the adverse effects commonly associated with existing Alzheimer’s agitation medications. A study conducted by researchers from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Tufts University School of Medicine found that a pill form [...]
The Future of Rare Disease Treatment with Precision Medicine
Understanding rare diseases Rare diseases affect less than 5 people out of 10,000. However, this still amounts to about 7% of the world’s population, with over 10,000 such conditions. Almost all are genetic in [...]
Doctors issue warning for upcoming ‘tripledemic
The term ‘tripledemic’ has hit headlines this week as the NHS begins its Covid and fluvaccine roll-out for vulnerable adults. As the cold weather sets in, many of us have experienced a decline in health, and this may [...]
The FDA approved a gel that can stop bleeding from wounds in seconds
Aug 15 (Reuters) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has cleared Cresilon's gel to quickly control bleeding, the privately held company said on Thursday, potentially giving emergency medical technicians and combat medics a [...]
High levels of microplastics found in prostate tumors, possibly linked to take-out food
The presence of microplastics in prostate tumors points to potential health risks, and researchers are calling for urgent studies to explore how take-out food may be driving this exposure. In a recent study published [...]
AI outperforms radiologists in brain tumor diagnosis
As artificial intelligence advances, its uses and capabilities in real-world applications continue to reach new heights that may even surpass human expertise. In the field of radiology, where a correct diagnosis is crucial to ensure [...]
Breakthrough Study Reveals Molecular Clues to Dementia Origins
Work could lead to the discovery of new therapeutic targets. For the first time, researchers have identified “molecular markers” linked to degeneration—detectable changes in cells and their gene-regulating networks—that are common across several types [...]
Better than blood tests? Nanoparticle potential found for assessing kidneys
In a study published July 29 in Advanced Materials, University of Texas at Dallas researchers found that X-rays of the kidneys using gold nanoparticles as a contrast agent might be more accurate in detecting kidney [...]
Greener nanomaterials could transform how our everyday stuff is made
Tiny nanoparticles are at the forefront of materials science—with special properties that make them great at absorbing light in solar panels, cleaning wastewater, and delivering drugs precisely. Some nanoparticles take the form of sheets or fibers. But nanomaterials all [...]
AI could predict breast cancer risk via ‘zombie cells’
Women worldwide could see better treatment with new AI technology, which enables better detection of damaged cells and more precisely predicts the risk of getting breast cancer, shows new research from the [...]
Through the eyes of a cat – biomimicry of feline eyes may revolutionize robotic vision
In a recent study published in the journal Science Advances, researchers leveraged crucial aspects of feline eyes, particularly their tapetum lucidum and vertically elongated pupils (VP), to develop a monocular artificial vision system capable of [...]
New Alzheimer’s Therapy Shows Remarkable Results in Animal Trials
A study from TUM demonstrates a promising therapeutic approach. Researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) have made promising advances in preventing Alzheimer’s by developing a new therapeutic strategy. Their approach focuses on targeting the amyloid beta [...]
Rewriting Cancer’s Blueprint: New Study Challenges Old Theories
A new study argues for a revised clonal evolution model of cancer, incorporating genetic and non-genetic factors to improve understanding and treatment. Like all living organisms, cancer cells are driven by the fundamental need [...]
Microplastics Everywhere: Experts Demand Worldwide Treaty Before It’s Too Late
A new report calls for global action on plastic pollution, urging reductions in plastic production and microplastic emissions. Researchers stress the importance of addressing plastic pollution through both scientific and social science perspectives. A [...]
Blood tests could soon predict your risk of Alzheimer’s
Scientists are closing in on biomarkers that reflect the progression of Alzheimer’s disease and could improve treatments. Like many Alzheimer’s researchers, neurologist Randall Bateman is not prone to effusiveness, having endured disappointments in his [...]
