No, the coronavirus isn't becoming more contagious or less deadly — it's already 'very successful at what it's doing,' a geneticist says

Viruses like the coronavirus can change over time as they accumulate genetic errors, or mutations. A group of Italian doctors suggested the coronavirus has changed to become less lethal. Some research also shows that a mutated strain of the virus is more transmissible than the original in cells. But a geneticist that tracks the virus's spread told Business Insider that it has yet to mutate in a meaningful way, and there's no evidence it has gotten weaker or more contagious. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Experts continue to throw out conflicting ideas about whether the coronavirus has changed. Some Italian doctors say it's gotten weaker over time. A group of researchers has suggested the opposite: that a mutated version of the virus became dominant worldwide because it's more transmissible than the original. 

All viruses, including the coronavirus, change over time by accumulating mutations as they replicate. But according to Emma Hodcroft, a geneticist at the Nextstrain project, there's still no evidence this virus changed in any significant way — not to become less deadly, and not to be more contagious.

The Nextstrain project has been tracking changes in the coronavirus for months. So far, Hodcroft's team has collected and sequenced the genome of thousands of virus samples collected around the world since December 2019.

See the rest of the story at Business Insider

NOW WATCH: 2 truths and a lie about the coronavirus about social distancing, mutations, and death rates

See Also:

• A White House document says 18 states are in the coronavirus 'red zone' and should limit gatherings, close gyms, and mask up
• US coronavirus deaths might be peaking after a record surge in cases, a new analysis says
• The US's huge second peak shows warm weather has no effect on the coronavirus' spread, despite Trump's hopes. Here's why.

SEE ALSO: A mutated strain of the coronavirus has taken over the world. But there is not enough evidence to say it's more contagious.

from Feedburner https://ift.tt/30oOuDx