Docs see mutant taking over

The new, highly transmissible variant of the coronavirus first found in the U.K. could become the dominant strain of the virus in the U.S. by March, according to a model developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In the CDC’s report published Friday, health experts write that the new variant, known as B.1.1.7, has already been reported in 10 U.S. states and it “has the potential to increase the U.S. pandemic trajectory in the coming months.”

B.1.1.7 has been detected in more than 30 countries. Health experts believe that the new variant emerged in September 2020, when it quickly became the dominant circulating SARS-CoV-2 variant in England.

The strain is believed to be roughly 50% more transmissible than early variants of the virus.

Increased transmission could “threaten strained health care resources” and would require “more rigorous implementation of public health strategies” such as social distancing, use of face masks and hand hygiene.

“Taking measures to reduce transmission now can lessen the potential impact of B.1.1.7 and allow critical time to increase vaccination coverage,” the CDC said.

In addition to the U.K. variant, two other strains have been identified.

One of them, the B.1.351 lineage, was first detected in South Africa in December.

The other, B.1.1.28 subclade (renamed “P.1”) was first detected in four travelers from Brazil.