Julian W Tang

Why we shouldn’t worry about Covid super strains

(Photo: Getty)

Should we worry about new Covid variants? Much has been made in recent weeks about the potential for new Covid strains to arise, and the danger of a new super variant bypassing all our vaccines and bodies’ existing defences to cause another global pandemic even worse than this one.

But while I would say that this is not impossible and could happen, it would be very unusual if this took place.

We know from previous epidemics what happens when a population encounters a new virus. When Europeans first discovered South America, the viral infections they imported – measles, chickenpox, smallpox, influenza – killed more of the indigenous people than any of the related wars taking place.

But over time, people (particularly during childhood) gradually acquire a certain level of immunity, resulting in improved survival when later exposed to these viruses. Smallpox has now been eradicated and immunity to measles and chickenpox is very stable and generally lasts for life.

Even in modern times, we see a difference in mortality between ‘endemic’ populations and ‘visiting’ travellers for many infectious diseases – like Lassa fever and malaria – where local populations have gradually developed some degree of immunity over decades of exposure which reduces the impact of the disease.

This makes perfect sense from an evolutionary viewpoint – it is much better for a pathogen to keep its host alive, because otherwise it cannot replicate and will eventually die out.

Although there are some differences, the viruses causing flu (influenza) and Covid-19 (SARS-COV-2) are similar in that our natural immunity will adapt and respond to each new virus variant with new generations of specific antibodies (produced by B cells) and T-cell responses – and our immune system can remember these different virus variants for life.

Already a subscriber? Log in

Keep reading with a free trial

Subscribe and get your first month of online and app access for free. After that it’s just £1 a week.

There’s no commitment, you can cancel any time.

Or

Unlock more articles

REGISTER

Comments

Don't miss out

Join the conversation with other Spectator readers. Subscribe to leave a comment.

Already a subscriber? Log in