WHO’s Science in 5 on COVID-19: Update on virus variants
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0:06 - 0:09Vismita Gupta-Smith:
When you hear about variants - -
0:09 - 0:12variants of concern,
variants of interest - -
0:12 - 0:15mutations - double or triple mutations -
-
0:15 - 0:17what does that mean?
-
0:17 - 0:21And what action does the public
need to take to protect themselves? -
0:21 - 0:23Hello, and welcome to Science in 5.
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0:23 - 0:25I'm Vismita Gupta-Smith.
-
0:25 - 0:29Giving us an update on variants today
is Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove. -
0:29 - 0:34Maria, give us an update on the variants
that are circulating right now. -
0:34 - 0:36Maria Van Kerkhove:
Thanks for having me back. -
0:36 - 0:40There are several virus variants
that WHO is tracking around the world. -
0:40 - 0:43The SARS-CoV-2 virus,
the virus that causes COVID-19, -
0:43 - 0:44is evolving.
-
0:44 - 0:46This is a natural evolution,
-
0:46 - 0:50and the virus is expected to change
the more the virus circulates around. -
0:50 - 0:53Currently, there are
four variants of concern -
0:53 - 0:55that WHO is tracking around the world:
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0:55 - 0:58the B.1.1.7, which was
first identified in the United Kingdom; -
0:58 - 1:03the B.1.351, which was
first identified in South Africa; -
1:03 - 1:06the P.1 variant, which was
first identified in Japan -
1:06 - 1:07from travelers from Brazil;
-
1:07 - 1:11and now we've recently
classified the B.1.617, -
1:11 - 1:14which was first identified in India.
-
1:14 - 1:17Now, it's really important that you look
at the latest information from WHO -
1:17 - 1:21because this is a fast-changing situation.
-
1:21 - 1:24The latest information we have
on all of our variants of interest -
1:24 - 1:26and variants of concern
that we are tracking -
1:26 - 1:30are released on our website
in our weekly epidemiological SitRep. -
1:30 - 1:36VGS: Maria, how does WHO classify
a variant as a variant of interest -
1:36 - 1:38or a variant of concern?
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1:38 - 1:40MVK: Variants of interest have properties,
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1:40 - 1:43have mutations that have been identified
that need further study. -
1:44 - 1:47Variants of concern
have demonstrated changes. -
1:47 - 1:50For example, you may have
increased transmissibility; -
1:50 - 1:53there may be a change
in disease presentation or severity; -
1:53 - 1:56or there may be a change
in our ability to control the virus -
1:56 - 1:58with public health and social measures;
-
1:58 - 2:02or the use of diagnostics,
therapeutics and vaccines. -
2:02 - 2:06So the recent variant of concern,
the B.1.617, for example, -
2:06 - 2:08has demonstrated
increased transmissibility, -
2:08 - 2:11and this is why this has been classified
as a variant of concern. -
2:11 - 2:14So you'll notice when I said
a variant of concern, -
2:14 - 2:17I named it by a number,
for example, B.1.617, -
2:17 - 2:19and I didn't call it
a country name variant. -
2:19 - 2:21It's really important
that we don't do that. -
2:21 - 2:23We don't say country X variant,
-
2:23 - 2:26because that really adds a stigma
associated with these variants. -
2:26 - 2:30And it's important that surveillance
is occurring around the world, -
2:30 - 2:32and we detect these variants very quickly;
-
2:32 - 2:35the information is shared
so that it can be analyzed -
2:35 - 2:37so that we understand
the potential implications -
2:37 - 2:38once they are identified.
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2:38 - 2:41VGS: What does this mean for the public?
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2:41 - 2:43MVK: It means that we need
to do everything that we can -
2:43 - 2:45to prevent infections
-
2:45 - 2:47and reduce the spread
of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, -
2:47 - 2:49whether it's a virus variant,
-
2:49 - 2:50a variant of interest
-
2:50 - 2:52or a variant of concern or not.
-
2:52 - 2:57The SARS-CoV-2 virus can infect us,
and it can spread between people. -
2:57 - 3:00So it means to take
all of the measures that you can -
3:00 - 3:01to reduce your exposure
-
3:01 - 3:04in the possibility
of you getting infected. -
3:04 - 3:05It means physical distancing,
-
3:05 - 3:07avoiding crowded spaces,
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3:07 - 3:10spending more time outdoors than indoors.
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3:10 - 3:13If you are indoors, make sure
that there's good ventilation. -
3:13 - 3:15It's about having clean hands
and wearing a mask, -
3:15 - 3:18properly over your nose and your mouth,
-
3:18 - 3:19practicing respiratory etiquette,
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3:19 - 3:20being well-informed.
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3:20 - 3:22And no matter what you do,
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3:22 - 3:26know what your risk is
and take steps to lower your risk. -
3:26 - 3:28And lastly, when it's your turn,
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3:28 - 3:29get vaccinated.
-
3:29 - 3:31There are many studies underway
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3:31 - 3:34studying the properties
of each of these variants of concern -
3:34 - 3:35in terms of transmissibility,
-
3:35 - 3:39severity, and impact on diagnostics,
therapeutics and vaccines. -
3:39 - 3:43So far from the information that we have
from the studies that are underway -
3:43 - 3:44and the results that are available,
-
3:44 - 3:46the public health and social measures,
-
3:46 - 3:49the diagnostics,
therapeutics, and vaccines -
3:49 - 3:51do work against these virus variants.
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3:51 - 3:52We are learning every day
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3:52 - 3:54and as soon as we have more information,
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3:54 - 3:56we will share this with you.
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3:56 - 3:57VGS: Thank you, Maria.
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3:57 - 4:03That was Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove
giving us an update on virus variants. -
4:03 - 4:04Until next time then.
-
4:04 - 4:08Stay safe, stay healthy,
and stick with science. -
4:08 - 4:10Subtitles by Maurício Kakuei Tanaka
- Title:
- WHO’s Science in 5 on COVID-19: Update on virus variants
- Description:
-
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. - Video Language:
- English
- Team:
- Amplifying Voices
- Project:
- COVID-19 Pandemic
- Duration:
- 04:12
Carol Wang edited English subtitles for WHO’s Science in 5 on COVID-19: Update on virus variants | ||
Carol Wang edited English subtitles for WHO’s Science in 5 on COVID-19: Update on virus variants | ||
Carol Wang edited English subtitles for WHO’s Science in 5 on COVID-19: Update on virus variants | ||
Carol Wang edited English subtitles for WHO’s Science in 5 on COVID-19: Update on virus variants | ||
Maurício Kakuei Tanaka edited English subtitles for WHO’s Science in 5 on COVID-19: Update on virus variants | ||
Maurício Kakuei Tanaka edited English subtitles for WHO’s Science in 5 on COVID-19: Update on virus variants | ||
Maurício Kakuei Tanaka edited English subtitles for WHO’s Science in 5 on COVID-19: Update on virus variants | ||
Thais_PM edited English subtitles for WHO’s Science in 5 on COVID-19: Update on virus variants |