Alpha variant

alternative alpha variant · alternative Alpha Variant · alternative α variant · alternative α-variant · alternative Α variant · alternative Α-variant

1. The highly virulent B.1.1.7 strain of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19.

   The CDC predicted the Alpha variant, known by the scientific name B.1.1.7, became the dominant strain during the two-week period ending with March 10.

   2021 June 10, Justine Coleman, “CDC estimates Alpha variant made up 66 percent of COVID-19 cases in April”, in The Hill, archived from the original on 18 Dec 2021

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   One way the Alpha variant became more transmissible was by getting better at sneaking past the intruder alarm - called the interferon response - inside our body's cells. But this does not mean that by the time we work through the Greek alphabet of variants and reach Omega that we'll end up with an unstoppable beast.

   2021 June 12, James Gallagher, “Covid: Is there a limit to how much worse variants can get?”, in BBC News, archived from the original on 23 May 2023

   Studies have analyzed and compared the symptoms and effectiveness of the vaccine against the COVID-19 variants, with differing results. Some studies found that the Alpha variant may increase the risk of ICU admission and mortality, while others concluded there were no significant differences.

   2022 September 14, Florensa, D., Mateo, J., Spaimoc, R. et al., “Severity of COVID-19 cases in the months of predominance of the Alpha and Delta variants”, in Scientific Reports, volume 12, →DOI

   Synonyms: alpha, Alpha, alpha strain, Alpha strain, Alpha Strain, British strain, British variant, English strain