WHO’s Science in 5 on COVID-19: Update on virus variants

Episode #39
What are the variants circulating at this time? How are variants classified as variants of interest or concern? What does this mean for the public? Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove explains in Science in 5 this week.

[Science in 5]

Vismita Gupta-Smith:
When you hear about variants -

variants of concern,
variants of interest -

mutations - double or triple mutations -

what does that mean?

And what action does the public
need to take to protect themselves?

Hello, and welcome to Science in 5.

I'm Vismita Gupta-Smith.

Giving us an update on variants today
is Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove.

Maria, give us an update on the variants
that are circulating right now.

Maria Van Kerkhove:
Thanks for having me back.

There are several virus variants
that WHO is tracking around the world.

The SARS-CoV-2 virus,
the virus that causes COVID-19,

is evolving.

This is a natural evolution,

and the virus is expected to change,
the more the virus circulates around.

Currently, there are
four variants of concern

that WHO is tracking around the world:

the B.1.1.7, which was
first identified in the United Kingdom;

the B.1.351, which was
first identified in South Africa;

the P.1 variant, which was
first identified in Japan

from travelers from Brazil;

and now we've recently
classified the B.1.617,

which was first identified in India.

Now, it's really important that you look
at the latest information from WHO

because this is a fast-changing situation.

The latest information we have
on all of our variants of interest

and variants of concern
that we are tracking

are released on our website
in our weekly epidemiological sitrep.

VGS: Maria, how does WHO
classify a variant

as a variant of interest
or a variant of concern?

MVK: Variants of interest have properties,

have mutations that have been identified
that need further study.

Variants of concern
have demonstrated changes.

For example, you may have
increased transmissibility;

there may be a change
in disease presentation or severity;

or there may be a change in our ability

to control the virus with public health
and social measures,

or the use of diagnostics,
therapeutics and vaccines.

So the recent variant of concern,
the B.1.617, for example,

has demonstrated
increased transmissibility,

and this is why this has been classified
as a variant of concern.

So you'll notice when I said
a variant of concern,

I named it by a number,
for example, B.1.617,

and I didn't call it
a country name variant.

It's really important
that we don't do that -

we don't say country X variant -

because that really adds a stigma
associated with these variants.

And it's important that surveillance
is occurring around the world,

and we detect these variants very quickly,

the information is shared
so that it can be analyzed

so that we understand
the potential implications

once they are identified.

VGS: What does this mean for the public?

MVK: It means that we need
to do everything that we can

to prevent infections

and reduce the spread
of the SARS-CoV-2 virus,

whether it's a virus variant,

a variant of interest

or a variant of concern or not.

The SARS-CoV-2 virus can infect us,
and it can spread between people.

So it means to take
all of the measures that you can

to reduce your exposure

in the possibility
of you getting infected.

It means physical distancing,

avoiding crowded spaces,

spending more time outdoors than indoors.

If you are indoors, make sure
that there's good ventilation.

It's about having clean hands

and wearing a mask properly
over your nose and your mouth,

practicing respiratory etiquette,

being well-informed.

And no matter what you do,

know what your risk is
and take steps to lower your risk.

And lastly, when it's your turn,

get vaccinated.

There are many studies underway

studying the properties
of each of these variants of concern

in terms of transmissibility, severity,

and impact on diagnostics,
therapeutics and vaccines.

So far from the information that we have
from the studies that are underway

and the results that are available,

the public health and social measures,

the diagnostics,
therapeutics, and vaccines

do work against these virus variants.

We are learning every day

and as soon as we have more information,

we will share this with you.

VGS: Thank you, Maria.

That was Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove
giving us an update on virus variants.

Until next time then.

Stay safe, stay healthy,
and stick with science.

Subtitles by Maurício Kakuei Tanaka
Review by Carol Wang