CORONAVIRUS HAS MUTATED: SOME STRAINS HAVE BECOME FAR DEADLIER AND SPREAD THROUGHOUT EUROPE WHILE A MILDER VARIETY WAS THE FIRST FOUND IN THE US, DEADLIERCHINESE STUDY FINDS

The most severe strains could generate up to 270 times as much viral load as the weakest variations. Pictured: Illustration of the novel coronavirus by the CDC

Researchers from Zhejiang University in China have found at least 30 strains of the virus, known as SARS-COV-2, with 19 being new

Some of the deadliest mutations were in Zhejiang, where the university is located, as well as in several European countries

The most severe strains could generate up to 270 times as much viral load as the weakest variations

Milder mutations were the varieties mostly found in the United States, such as in Washington state

The novel coronavirus has mutated which could have very deadly complications for the pandemic, a new small study finds.

A team of Chinese researchers from Zhejiang University says there are at least 30 strains of the virus, known as SARS-COV-2.

Strains within China were some of the most dangerous and resembled ones that spread across Europe, reported the South China Morning Post.

Meanwhile, the weaker strains appeared to largely congregate within the US. 

The authors say their findings are the first to show that the mutation could affect the severity of illness.

It comes on the heels of a report that America was hit with strains of the coronavirus from both Europe and China.  

This graphic shows the deadly strain that hit Europe (in purple) and the mild strain that mostly hit the US such as Seattle (in orange)

This table shows the epidemiological information about the  11 strains analyzed from the Chinese coronavirus patients

For the study, published on the preprint service medRxiv.org on Sunday, the team analyzed viral strains from 11 Chinese coronavirus patients.

The Post reported that, next, they tested how effectively the virus could infect and kill human cells.

Surprisingly, the team found some of the deadliest mutations in Zhejiang, where the university is located.

These mutations had also been seen in several hard-hit European countries such as Italy and Spain - before spreading to the US epicenter New York.

Additionally, the most aggressive strains could create up to 270 times as much viral load as the least potent type.

However, some of the milder mutations were the varieties largely found in the US, including Washington state, which could be the strain that shut down Wuhan, where the virus originated.    

'Sars-CoV-2 has acquired mutations capable of substantially changing its pathogenicity,' the authors wrote, according to the Post. 

The researchers warned that just because the mutations were milder, it didn't mean there was a low risk of mortality,

Two patients in Zhejiang, one in their 30s and one in their 50s, became severely ill after contracting weaker strains.

Although both recovered, the elder patient required treatment in a hospital's intensive care unit. 

Some of the deadliest mutations were Zhejiang, where the university is located, as well as in several European countries

Researchers detected about 30 mutations in total. About 60 percent of them, or 19, were new. 

The authors say that patients with COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, have been receiving the same treatment at the hospital regardless of what strain they have. 

They say that strains may need different efforts to fight the virus.

'Drug and vaccine development, while urgent, need to take the impact of these accumulating mutations...into account to avoid potential pitfalls,' the researchers said. 

Worldwide, more than 2.45 million people have been infected and more than 168,000 people have died.

In the US, there are more than 771,000 confirmed cases of the virus and more than 41,000 deaths. 

Let us know your opinion in the comment session below 

And follow us on IG @zikkyzhints

Facebook @zikkyzhints

Twitter @zikkyzH

Credit: DailyMail.com