India: double mutant coronavirus variant B.1.617 outcompeting B.1.1.7 UK variant

Data from Outbreak.info suggests that the B.1.617 “double mutant” variant is outcompeting the UK variant B.1.1.7 in India – the B1617 variant is now being detected in nearly twice as many sequences as the UK variant in 7 day rolling average of percent sequences with mutations

Graphs & data courtesy of Outbreak.info  More...

B.1.1.7 coronavirus variant infections have the potential to cause substantial additional mortality

The mortality hazard ratio associated with infection with VOC-202012/1 [B.1.1.7] compared to infection with previously circulating variants is 1.64 in patients who have tested positive for COVID-19 in the community.  More...