The findings are from 8,857 virus genomes sequenced from patients testing positive with COVID-19 in the first two months of 2021, which account for 94 percent of cases at Houston Methodist.
“We’ve estimated the doubling time for U.K. variant B.1.1.7 to be approximately seven days, which has Houston on track to be dominated by this variant within the next four to six weeks,” said James Musser, MD, PhD, chair of the Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine at Houston Methodist.
Dr. Musser cautions that present figures lag or underestimate the true presence of the variant. However, he noted that virus variants first discovered in South Africa and Brazil, B.1.351 and P.1, respectively, have not increased. There is something preferential to the U.K. B.1.1.7 variant that is conducive to it spreading across the Houston metropolitan area, according to Dr. Musser.
The study findings were posted on the preprint server medRxiv and have yet to be peer reviewed.
More articles on public health:
New variants could evade COVID-19 shot within a year, many epidemiologists say
Wisconsin Supreme Court overturns mask mandate
26% of US COVID-19 cases traced to UK variant, CDC director says
Becker’s 3rd Annual Fall Chief Pharmacy Officer Summit is the top tier event that the people leading the future of pharmacy convene. This 3-day event is built specifically for Chief Pharmacy Officers and senior pharmacy leaders. The sessions examine the workforce, financial and clinical priorities shaping pharmacy today. Becker’s is where candid discussions flourish and new ideas thrive. Becker's 3rd Annual Fall Chief Pharmacy Officer Summit
