The recent finding found that SARS-CoV-2, the virus behind COVID-19, mutates more slowly than seasonal flu. (Image via Business Insider)

Expert: COVID-19 mutates more slowly than seasonal flu

Alfonsus Adi Putra
Business & Industry
Medical and Health
Apr 13, 2020
2327
A recent study by the researchers of the bioinformatics department at the University of California showed that the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) which leads to novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) mutates more slowly than influenza and other types of viruses. The finding was considered a piece of good news for the development of the COVID-19 vaccine.

As brief information, a virus evolves through mutation. Each mutation changes genetic code in the virus. This ever-changing code is being analyzed by the researchers by the evolution model which will lead to the origin of the virus, the speed of mutation, and the location of the mutation.

The information is essential for the world to produce a cure and vaccine for a virus.

According to the current data, SARS-COV-2 mutated far more slowly than the seasonal flu, at less than 25 mutations per year. Meanwhile, the seasonal flu has a mutation rate at 50 mutations per year or four times faster than SARS-COV-2. However, the rapid mutation is also the reason why seasonal influenza is not as dangerous as the COVID-19.

The researchers said that since the mutation rate is slow, it gives hope for the world to develop a more effective vaccine for COVID-19. There is already a global initiative to share information regarding SARS-COV-2. One of these initiatives is Nextstrain, an open project to provide real-time reports of the outbreak of seasonal flu, Ebola, and other contagious diseases.

Source: https://bit.ly/3b6BRB5

Medical , Health , Pandemic , Coronavirus , COVID-19 , Experiment , Prevention , Vaccine , SARS-CoV-2 , Global