D614G Mutation Strains Of The SARS-CoV-2 Coronavirus Fast Appearing In South East Asia, Experts Warn To Prepare For The Worse In Coming Months.
Source: D614G Mutation Aug 17, 2020 4 years, 3 months, 5 days, 14 hours, 41 minutes ago
D614G Mutation: Since the original debut of the SAR-CoV-2 coronavirus in December 2019, most of the South-East Asian countries like Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia and even others like Hong Kong and Taiwan were spared from the severe symptoms of the disease and high death rates as we were all only exposed to the milder strains of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. Although it is suspected that millions in these countries could have been affected with the virus, most either were asymptomatic or merely experienced mild symptoms though we cannot say what the long term health complications in majority of them would be as already there are reports of high incidences of strokes, neurological conditions and chronic fatigue being reported in some of these countries although health authorities are refusing to confirm a link between those high incidences and SARS-CoV-2 infections.
Europe, Iran , America were badly hit as a result of the emergence of a mutated strain called D614G that had a new mutation on the codons of its spike proteins, enhancing its ability to be more infectious as it facilitates easier bindings to various receptors found on the host cells including ACE2 receptors.
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/warning-d614g-mutation-coronavirus-strains-from-europe-could-render-those-recovered-from-earlier-strains-defenseless-according-to-china and
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/scripp-institute-has-detected-the-mutation-that-most-scientist-dread:-the-d614g-mutation-which-could-make-the-sars-cov-2-more-infectious
The D614G strain by itself is not more deadly but because its binding capability is enhanced, it is able to affect more host cells and tissues and also organs faster, leading to more and faster disease progression and severity and it is this that results in it being more deadly and more difficult for treatments as more and faster damage is done to the rest of the host body.
What is more worrisome however, there are new minor sub-groups of the D614 strains appearing in Europe and America with mutations taking place that indicates that the virus is evolving to possible evade immune responses including T-Cell response. Already strains that are manifesting antibody resistance have appeared in the United States and Europe.
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/breaking-covid-19-exclusive-could-the-sars-cov-2-coronavirus-be-evolving-and-mutating-to-evade-t-cell-response and
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/breaking-news-covid-19-mutation-swedish-and-brazilian-researchers-detect-sars-cov-2-strain-with-novel-major-mutation-of-spike-protein and
landmedical.news/news/breaking-news-covid-19-antibodies-study-shows-that-certain-antibodies-from-recovered-patients-actually-helps-not-inhibits-the-sars-cov-2-virus">https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/breaking-news-covid-19-antibodies-study-shows-that-certain-antibodies-from-recovered-patients-actually-helps-not-inhibits-the-sars-cov-2-virus
To further compound the problem, recombinant sub-strains of the D614G strains have been reported in Europe and America
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/breaking-news-covid-19-genomics-emory-university-research-warns-emerging-recombinant-sars-cov-2-strains-already-occurring
Coupled with the fact that Chinese researchers had warned that those infected with the previous strains and have ‘recovered’ might be ‘doubled whammed’ should they get infected with the D614G strain, a frightening scenario lies ahead for most South-East Asian countries.
Most of the D614G strains that were found in Europe, American and Middle-East are now being spread to the South-East Countries basically by human vectors from Pakistan, India and Philippines long with Europeans, Americans and Middle-Easterns. Pakistanis, Indians and Middle-Easterns from countries like Iran, Qatar, Saudia Arabia Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudia Arabia or other nationals returning from these countries remains the most troublesome group of spreaders. (One discovery of late was that some of the PCR test that are being still used in some of these South-East Asian countries are still of the ‘first generation test kits’ that were used in the initial stages of the breakout and some of them have high inaccuracy rates or worse are not able to detect certain new strains accurately. Hence screening some of these asymptomatic returnees and travellers might not be effective.)
Already cases of D614G has been reported in countries like Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Indonesia (primarily from Indian, Pakistani, Middle-Eastern and British travellers) and despite some of the health authorities trying to downplay the situation, it is actually a very serious reflection of what is to come in South East-Asia the next few months as more of these D614G strains start appearing.
Experts are warning that unless governments tightly close the borders and stop air-travel in, many of these countries are going to witness scenes that are going to be far worse than that seen in Europe or America. Unfortunately many authorities some of these countries are complacent and are focusing more on economic issues rather than the well-being of it populations.
For more on the
D614G Mutation research and studies or news, keep on logging to Thailand Medical News.
Help! Please help support this website by kindly making a donation to sustain this website and also all in all our initiatives to propel further research: https://www.thailandmedical.news/p/sponsorship
All donations of value US$50 to US$100 will also receive complimentary therapeutic teas that can be useful in this COVID-19 era. https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/new-therapeutic-teas-
