Coronavirus variant spreads through New York

A new variant of coronavirus is spreading rapidly in New York and carries a mutation that may reduce the effectiveness of ­vaccines.

A passenger who just landed from New York undergoes a swab test for COVID-19. Picture: AFP

A new variant of coronavirus is spreading rapidly in New York and carries a mutation that may reduce the effectiveness of ­vaccines.

Scientists at Caltech and ­Columbia University have been studying the variant that first ­appeared in patient samples in November. It’s estimated that the variant now accounts for 27 per cent of total viral sequences in New York.

The mutations on the spike protein of the variant contain one mutation that is also seen in the South African variant, ­together with another mutation that may affect how tightly the virus binds to human cells.

It is believed that the variant first emerged in New York and not elsewhere, but it has spread to California. Scientists are concerned that it is now starting to overtake other variants in New York, indicating it is more infectious. The scientists at Caltech and Columbia University are concerned it could dampen the effectiveness of some current vaccine candidates.

The US recorded 500,000 deaths from COVID-19 earlier this week.

Vaccines that have been studied against the South African variant showed markedly diminished effectiveness.

The Novavax vaccine had a reduced efficacy of 49 per cent against the South African mutation, and the AstraZeneca ­vaccine had virtually no effectiveness against it, small studies conducted in South Africa have shown.

Monoclonal antibodies, which are used in some US hospitals to treat COVID-19, also have little effectiveness against the South African variant.

The effectiveness of vaccines against the UK variant, which is far more prevalent than others, has been more promising. The Pfizer vaccine has been shown in clinical trials to protect 90 per cent of those vaccinated.

Despite scientists’ concern at the new variant, New York health authorities said they were not alarmed. “Right now, we need to just consider this a variant of interest — something that’s interesting that we need to follow and track,” said Jay Varma, the top public health ­adviser to New York mayor Bill de Blasio. “It doesn’t change anything about our public health concern.”

New York’s case numbers have not dropped as quickly as in other parts of America, but health officials believe that is because testing numbers are higher.

New York City Health Commissioner Dave Chokshi said there is no evidence “at this point” to indicate COVID variants are to blame for the current trajectory of cases, or that the ­latest variant is concentrated in any specific parts of the city.

“The science around this is just less established compared to other variants, like the UK variant, which we are tracking very closely as well,” Dr Chokshi said. “Whether it’s a new strain that spreads more easily or causes more severe illness or reduces vaccine effectiveness, we have no indication that that’s the case yet.”

Mr de Blasio told New York residents they should not panic.