The new double mutant variant COVID-19 identified in the Bay Area, California; Dr. Stanford explains their findings

SAN FRANCISCO – The first case of that new COVID-19 variant found in the Bay Area has been confirmed.

A team of Stanford researchers has identified the strain, which originated in India.

Dr. Stanford, who runs the lab that just identified that “double mutant,” Dr. Benjamin Pinsky, spoke to Sister ABC7 News ABC7 on “Getting Answers.”

First, describe when and how your team came up with this special strain?

“We looked at all the positives coming through the Stanford Clinical Virology Laboratory for mutations associated with variants of concern,” said Dr. Pinsky. “Therefore, we initially identified this through this process, through R2PCR similar to what we do for standard COVID-19 diagnoses. And so far we have sequenced a case and confirmed that it was, in fact, one of those double mutant variants that was recently identified outside India. “

Why is this variant called a double mutant?

“It has two somewhat well-described mutations,” said Dr. Pinsky. “In the virus spike protein, it includes the L452R mutation, which is found in the California version, and then has a mutation in another position, E484, which is found in the South African and Brazilian versions.”

Is it more dangerous? More transmissible?

“We don’t know that yet, although these mutations we talked about were associated with increased transmissibility,” said Dr. Pinsky. “In fact, in India, this new variant accounts for 15-20% of cases in a particular state.”

RELATED: Children now play a “huge role” in spreading COVID-19, says expert

Do you know if current vaccines will be effective against it?

“I don’t think we know if vaccines will be less effective against this variant,” said Dr. Pinsky. We have some information about experiments on individual mutations that suggest that antibodies will be less able to neutralize this Indian variant.

Despite uncertainty about the impact of these new variants, Dr. Pinsky still urges the public to get vaccinated.

“It’s important to remember that vaccines are very effective in preventing severe disease, so everyone should be vaccinated as soon as possible,” Pinsky said.

Having trouble loading the tracker above? Click here to open it in a new window.

AFFILIATES Experts dispel myths about the COVID-19 vaccine