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Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, multiple variants of the virus have developed. One of these variants is P.1, which was discovered in four travelers from Brazil as they were screened at an airport in Japan in January 2021.
Where Gamma Has Spread
The P.1 variant, also known as the Gamma variant, has now spread to at least 68 countries worldwide, including the United States. It is the dominant strain of COVID-19 in Brazil.
Spread in the United States
The Gamma variant was initially found in the United States in January 2021 in Minnesota.
As of June 15, 2021, The Gamma variant was responsible for more than 8% of new COVID-19 cases in the United States. The Gamma variant has been found in at least 31 states.
Is Gamma More Contagious?
The Gamma variant is thought to be more contagious than the original COVID-19 virus based on data from Brazil, but details on the increased risk of transmission have not been reported.
Why Do Viruses Mutate?
It is common for all viruses to mutate. When a virus enters the body, it begins to make copies of itself.
The infectiousness of a virus is measured by a reproduction number—called R0—which measures the number of people an infected person will give the virus to. For example, if the R0 is 1, an infected person is likely to give it to one other person, and an R0 of 5 means an infected person is going to transmit it to five other people. We do not yet know the R0 for the P.1 variant.
Risk of Reinfection
It is possible that the Gamma variant can cause reinfection.
Preventing Transmission
Precautions to prevent the transmission of the Gamma variant are the same as for the original COVID-19 virus and should continue to be followed. Precautions if you’re unvaccinated include:
Data from Brazil confirmed that it’s possible to be infected with the original strain of COVID-19 and then become reinfected with the Gamma variant. However, further studies are needed to continue to investigate and help determine the risk of reinfection.
Is Gamma More Severe?
Data on the severity of COVID-19 infection from the Gamma variant is limited. However, what is currently available in a study from Brazil does not suggest an increase in disease severity from the P.1 strain.
Recent studies did uncover that specific monoclonal antibody treatments may be less effective for treating cases of COVID-19 caused by the Gamma variant.
Will Vaccines Work Against Gamma?
The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that the Gamma variant may cause a mild decrease in the effectiveness of vaccines, while some vaccines not in use in the United States are showing effectiveness against this strain. Studies are still ongoing, with more data to come.
Are Kids More at Risk for Gamma?
Currently, there is little data available about the risk of Gamma in children. However, there is no current evidence suggesting this virus causes an increased risk of infection or more severe disease in children.
A Word From Verywell
Experts are worried about the spread of the P.1 variant of COVID-19 around the world and in the United States.
Following precautions as outlined by the CDC and getting a vaccine when it is available to you, as long as it safe for you to do so, is important to help decrease the spread of this and other variants of COVID-19.
