1- Monday Infectious Disease News – 4th October

1 – What Is the R.1 COVID-19 Variant? Here’s What We Know So Far

• The World Health Organization recently announced the Delta variant has surpassed other mutations of SARS-CoV-2 as the most prominent strain in the world—but researchers have identified another strain, the R.1 variant, that’s been responsible for a small number of COVID-19 cases in the United States and worldwide.
• The R.1 variant of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, isn’t new: The mutation was first detected in Japan last year, and it’s since made its way to other countries, including the US.
• The R.1 variant is a version of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that has mutations associated with changes in the function of the virus. In other words, as with any new strain, R.1 could affect people differently than the original version of the virus.

Source: Health.com

2 – Comparison of antibiotics included in national essential medicines lists of 138 countries using the WHO Access, Watch, Reserve (AWaRe) classification: a cross-sectional study

• The WHO Model List of Essential Medicines classified antibiotics into Access, Watch, and Reserve (AWaRe) categories for the treatment of 31 priority bacterial infections as a tool to facilitate antibiotic stewardship and optimal use.
• This study compared the listing of antibiotics on national essential medicines lists (NEMLs) to those in the 2019 WHO Model List and the AWaRe classification database to determine the degree to which NEMLs are in alignment with the AWaRe classification framework recommended by WHO.
• The findings highlight potential changes to the antibiotics included in NEMLs that would increase adherence to international guidance aimed at effectively treating infectious diseases while addressing antimicrobial resistance.

Source: The Lancet

3 – COVID variants are getting more airborne, making them more contagious

• “The virus is evolving to get better at airborne spread; it’s getting out into the air better,” Dr. Donald Milton, one of the researchers who conducted the study at the University of Maryland’s School of Public Health, said.
• The researchers tested 49 infected people and found that variants are spreading better.
• People sit with a cone in front of their face that is collecting all of the air coming from around their head,” Dr. Milton explained.
• The cone, called the Gesundheit TWO, measures how much virus is in their breath.
• The test was conducted with people’s masks on and with their masks off. And the results show that those with a variant were breathing out more virus.
• “Eighteen times more in the air,” Milton pointed out.
• The study involved the Alpha variant, which was the dominant one when the research was conducted. Alpha was more contagious than the original form of COVID-19 but less contagious than the Delta variant that’s so common today.

Source: CBS News

4- Coronavirus: How has the Delta variant altered COVID-19 symptoms?

• The second wave of coronavirus in India took a devastating turn when a large population either came down with severe illnesses or succumbed to the virus. Apart from the lax in taking necessary measures, experts hold the Delta variant responsible for the havoc wreaked.
• Since then, although the coronavirus cases in the country have considerably dropped down, globally, the B.1.617.2 lineage of COVID-19 continues to cause chaos, having become the most predominant variants, as per the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
• According to the CDC, “The Delta variant is highly contagious, more than 2x as contagious as previous variants.” “Some data suggest the Delta variant might cause more severe illness than previous variants in unvaccinated people,” the health agency further explains.

Source: Times of India

5 – Dangerously Mutated R.1 COVID Variant Detected in 35 Countries

• The R.1 variant of COVID-19, which scientists fear is more infectious and could evade current vaccines, has been detected in 35 countries and in two U.S. territories.
• The variant, which initially spread through 45 residents and staff at a Kentucky nursing home in March, has since been detected in 47 U.S. states, according to data.
• First detected in Japan, the variant contains a mutation that could enable it to bypass the antibody protection present in those who are fully vaccinated.
• There have been 10,567 reported cases of R.1 detected around the world as of September 22, according to Outbreak Info.

Source: Newsweek

6 – What Does the Delta Variant Look Like in Kids?

• Unlike the earlier versions of the coronavirus, which, for the most part, left children alone, the new Delta variant is taking a considerable toll on kids — especially as children under 12 have not been vaccinated yet.
• The Delta variant is more contagious. That’s why you’re seeing it more in children.
• According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Delta variant is more than twice as contagious as previous variants, and there’s data that suggests it might cause more severe illness in unvaccinated people.
• It’s still too early to tell if there are significant differences in symptoms of the Delta variant versus the previous variants.
• Yale Medicine reported that cough and loss of smell are less common with the Delta variant, while headache, sore throat, runny nose, and fever are among the top symptoms.

Source: Healthline

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