A coronavirus variant first identified in Denmark is now surging through California and represents more than half of samples in 44 counties, according to new UC San Francisco data released Monday.
The variant, called L452R, is more infectious than the original strain of the virus, although it does not appear to spread more quickly than the U.K. variant, scientists found.
Also troubling is new evidence that links the variant to increased risk of severe illness and death. Additionally, people who are vaccinated seem to produce fewer protective antibodies in response to the variant, suggesting it might evade our immune defenses.
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A coronavirus variant first identified in Denmark is now surging through California and represents more than half of samples in 44 counties, according to new UC San Francisco data released Monday.
The variant, called L452R, is more infectious than the original strain of the virus, although it does not appear to spread more quickly than the U.K. variant, scientists found.
Also troubling is new evidence that links the variant to increased risk of severe illness and death. Additionally, people who are vaccinated seem to produce fewer protective antibodies in response to the variant, suggesting it might evade our immune defenses.