Mutated form of coronavirus may be more contagious, but less deadly, experts say

Mutated form of coronavirus may be more contagious, but less deadly, experts say A common mutation of the novel coronavirus seen in the United States may be more infectious but less deadly, according to recent reports. Amy McGorry Fox News

A common mutation of the novel coronavirus seen in the United States may be more infectious but less deadly, according to recent reports. The World Health Organization (WHO) and infectious disease experts told Fox News the mutation of coronavirus is known as D614G and is predominately in North America.

“The D614G strain was first identified in February; it is presently the predominant strain in North America and Europe and is now back in Asia," the WHO told Fox News in an email.

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“It has been thought that there are at least six different strain types and this is the dominant one that has taken over," Dr. Ravina Kullar, an epidemiologist, told Fox News.

“This mutated strain is thought to be more transmissible/contagious than the original strain, but this has only been shown in the lab thus far where it was shown to have more viral load," Kullar, a member of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, added.

Kullar referred to two studies published in the Journal Cell that she said suggested “this mutated strain was 10 times more infectious than the original strain but less deadly.” The infectious disease specialist cautioned an epidemiological study needs to be done confirming these findings in people, not just a lab. ...