variant

A booster vaccine is administered on the Indonesian resort island of Bali.

Health & Safety

Coronavirus FAQs: How worrisome is the new variant? How long do boosters last?

6:47pm August 25, 2023

by Fran Kritz

Readers are curious about the new variant, currently known a BA.2.86. Also: Lots of questions about boosters. Can you get it at the same time as a flu shot? And how long does protection last?

An electron microscope image shows a SARS-CoV-2 particle isolated in the early days of the pandemic. It's been nearly a year since omicron was first detected, and scientists say this branch of the coronavirus family tree is still thriving.

Omicron keeps finding new evolutionary tricks to outsmart our immunity

5:02am October 25, 2022

by Rob Stein

SARS-CoV-2 is evolving "rapidly," spawning one new variant after another. But omicron continues to dominate, raising new questions about how evolution of the virus is headed.

Omicron may be less severe in South Africa. That may not be the case for the U.S.

7:47pm December 17, 2021

Researchers in South Africa have found that people infected with omicron, on average, are less likely to end up in the hospital. But the variant may act differently here in the U.S.

Studies suggest sharp drop in vaccine protection vs. omicron — yet cause for optimism

5:03pm December 08, 2021

by Michaeleen Doucleff

In small studies in South Africa and in Germany, the results indicate a marked decrease in the ability of vaccines to neutralize this variant. But there are other findings that are encouraging.

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A registered nurse administers the COVID-19 vaccine at a high school gym in Corona, California. Scientists are trying to determine if vaccines (and boosters) will offer protection against the newly identified omicron variant.

Scientists race to answer the question: Will vaccines protect us against omicron?

5:35pm December 02, 2021

by Michaeleen Doucleff

There's serious concern about the effectiveness of vaccines against the omicron strain. But there's also reason to be hopeful — especially for those who've had a booster.

Here's a computer generated image of the omicron variant of the coronavirus — also known as B.1.1.529. Reported in South Africa on Nov. 24, this variant has a large number of mutations, some of which are concerning.

The mystery of where omicron came from — and why it matters

3:23pm December 01, 2021

by Nurith Aizenman

How did this new strain of the novel coronavirus evolve? Researchers are investigating various possibilities. One leading theory involves ... just one person.

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In the U.K. the Delta variant, or B.1.617.2, is now the dominant strain of SARS-CoV-2 and is causing surges of COVID-19 in parts of the country.

The Highly Contagious Delta Variant Is On The Rise In the U.S.

9:28pm June 08, 2021

by Jane Greenhalgh

The variant accounts for more than 6% of all infections in the U.S. and in some Western states is responsible for more than 18% of cases.

People wait at an exit gate at the Kolkata Airport Terminal. International air travel to and from India has been restricted as the country battles a catastrophic COVID-19 surge.

Trapped By India Travel Bans: Workers, Expats, Families ... An Aussie Cricket Team

9:18pm May 04, 2021

by Kamala Thiagarajan

Mounting COVID-19 travel restrictions are meant to contain the Indian variant. But citizens and visitors alike are feeling frustrated.

Like all viruses, the coronavirus mutates. Above: In this depiction of the the South African coronavirus variant B.1.531, the thin yellow band around the rim of indicates a mutation site. The virus spike (red) is attaching to a human cell receptor (blue).

People Are Talking About A 'Double Mutant' Variant In India. What Does That Mean?

7:25am April 24, 2021

by Michaeleen Doucleff

The term is a reference to two particular mutations in SARS-CoV-2. But the variant in India could carry additional mutations.

Health & Safety

New Coronavirus Variant Shows Up In North Carolina

12:33pm January 23, 2021

by Associated Press

State officials are reporting the first case in North Carolina of a more contagious strain of the coronavirus that was first detected in the United Kingdom in December.