Why in news?

• The World Health Organization (WHO) will convene a meeting of members to discuss strategies to counter a new, more infectious coronavirus strain that emerged in Britain.

 About the new variant

• The WHO cautioned against major alarm over the variant, saying it was a normal part of a pandemic’s evolution.
• The main worry is that the new variant is 40%-70% more transmissible.

Evolution of a virus

• Viruses undergo evolution and natural selection, just like cell-based life, and most of them evolve rapidly.
• When two viruses infect a cell at the same time, they may swap genetic material to make new, mixed viruses with unique properties. For example, flu strains can arise this way.
• RNA viruses have high mutation rates that allow especially fast evolution. An example is the evolution of drug resistance in HIV.

Why is this mutation a problem?

• Developed vaccines may get impotent.
• Chances of re-infection may rise.

Reference:

1. https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/coronavirus-who-calls-meeting-on-new-virus-variant/article33396944.ece