ALPHA VARIANT

(SARS-CoV-2)

Prepared by Group 1
Let’s take a look
COVID-19
 An acute respiratory illness in humans caused by
a coronavirus, capable of producing severe
symptoms and in some cases death, especially in
older people and those with underlying health
conditions. It was originally identified in China in
2019 and became pandemic in 2020.
 THE ALPHA VARIANT
(Background)
The Alpha variant is estimated to be 40–80%
more transmissible than the wild-type SARS-
CoV-2. It was first detected in November 2020
from a sample taken in September in the United
Kingdom[citation needed], and began to spread
quickly by mid-December, around the same
time as infections surged.
 THE ALPHA VARIANT
(Background)
As of January 2021, more than half of all
genomic sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 was carried
out in the UK. This has given rise to questions as
to how many other important variants may be
circulating around the world undetected
 THE ALPHA VARIANT
(Names)
The variant is known by several names. Outside
the UK it is sometimes referred to as the UK
variant or British variant or English variant,
despite the existence of other, less common,
variants first identified in UK, such as Eta
variant Within the UK, it is commonly referred
to as the Kent variant after Kent, where the
variant was found.
 THE ALPHA VARIANT
(Signs and Symptoms)
Imperial College London investigated over a
million people in England while the Alpha
variant was dominant and discovered a wide
range of further symptoms linked to Covid.
"Chills, loss of appetite, headache and muscle
aches" were most common in infected people,
as well as classic symptoms.
 THE ALPHA VARIANT
(Diagnosis)
Several rapid antigen tests for SARS-CoV-2 are in
widespread use globally for COVID-19
diagnostics. They are believed to be useful in
stopping the chain of transmission of the virus
by providing the means to rapidly identify large
numbers of cases as part of a mass-testing
program.
 THE ALPHA VARIANT
(Prevention)
As of late 2020, several COVID-19 vaccines were
being deployed or under development.

However, as further mutations occur, concerns

were raised as to whether vaccine development
would need to be altered.
 THE ALPHA VARIANT
(Prevention)
SARS-CoV-2 does not mutate as quickly as, for
example, influenza viruses, and the new
vaccines that had proved effective by the end of
2020 are types that can be adjusted if necessary
 THE ALPHA VARIANT
(Prevention)
As of the end of 2020, German, British, and
American health authorities and experts believe
that existing vaccines will be as effective against
VOC-202012/01 as against previous variants.