The threat that #B117 and other fast-spread #CoronavirusStrain|s pose is starting to get wider attention.
The question that is still wide open: What to do?
2/7
The question that is still wide open: What to do?
2/7
The ECDC are very clear in their first threat assessment
"efforts to *prevent* and *control* the spread of the variant should mirror those effective in an early epidemic phase" (emphasis mine).
In other words - don't let it get or keep a foothold.
3/7
ecdc.europa.eu/en/publication…
"efforts to *prevent* and *control* the spread of the variant should mirror those effective in an early epidemic phase" (emphasis mine).
In other words - don't let it get or keep a foothold.
3/7
ecdc.europa.eu/en/publication…
Given we have widespread transmission of #Coronavirus in all of the EU, can we even identify #B117 cases between others?
Yep! And not just by sequencing..
PCR works, is fast, widely deployed already, and will do the trick!
One way:
4/7
Yep! And not just by sequencing..
PCR works, is fast, widely deployed already, and will do the trick!
One way:
https://twitter.com/firefoxx66/status/1343561894733504519
4/7
So - #B117 is highly dangerous, we need to control it, and we *can* identify it. How do we act towards this #CoronavirusStrain then?
The past 9 months should give us some insights.
bmj.com/content/371/bm…
5/7
The past 9 months should give us some insights.
bmj.com/content/371/bm…
5/7
In fact its very likely we've already once reacted to a faster-spreading strain of #SARSCoV2 as a new threat: that coming out of Wuhan.
It appears the virus did not arise there, it just picked up speed considerably - as has happened in "London" now.
6/7
It appears the virus did not arise there, it just picked up speed considerably - as has happened in "London" now.
https://twitter.com/DrEricDing/status/1345438947137236993
6/7
So - we face a choice:
2021 can be a lot better than 2020.
Or 2021 can be far worse.
7/7
2021 can be a lot better than 2020.
Or 2021 can be far worse.
7/7
Addendum one:
To be clear, I fully agree with Isabella Eckerle's sentiment here.
However, going for elimination of #B117 in parallel is highly synergistic - controlling all #SARSCoV2 is easier if the share of #B117 is low (and vice versa!).
To be clear, I fully agree with Isabella Eckerle's sentiment here.
However, going for elimination of #B117 in parallel is highly synergistic - controlling all #SARSCoV2 is easier if the share of #B117 is low (and vice versa!).
https://twitter.com/EckerleIsabella/status/1343653807553720326
Addendum two:
I'm sure there will be questions of "but how to #EliminateFastSpreaders when their share grows even in #lockdown?"
That's where rapid identification is important, because then we can target measures to areas and clusters of #B117 transmission. Extra thread later!
I'm sure there will be questions of "but how to #EliminateFastSpreaders when their share grows even in #lockdown?"
That's where rapid identification is important, because then we can target measures to areas and clusters of #B117 transmission. Extra thread later!
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