Coronavirus has mutated into at least 30 different strains

According to a new study in China, the coronavirus has mutated into at least 30 different genetic variations.

Medical officials have found that different strains have affected different parts of the world, potentially making it difficult to find an overall cure.

The study was conducted by researchers from Zhejiang University in Hangzhou, China, where there has been a report of 1,264 cases in the city. The study, carried out by professor Li Lanjan, was published on Sunday in a non-peer reviewed paper.

Researchers analyzed the strains from 11 random coronavirus patients and tested how efficiently they can infect and kill cells. China’s coronavirus numbers have not been verified yet.

At least 30 different mutations of the virus have been detected, 19 of them were previously undiscovered.

 

“Sars-CoV-2 has acquired mutations capable of substantially changing its pathogenicity,” Li wrote in the paper.

 

Li’s research team identified some of the most aggressive strains of the virus are to generate 270 times the viral load as the weakest strain. It has found that forceful strains kill human cells faster.

The researcher states “true diversity” of the viral strains is underappreciated and must be understood to find a treatment or vaccine.

 

“Drug and vaccine development, while urgent, need to take the impact of these accumulating mutations, especially the founding mutations, into account to avoid potential pitfall,” the authors wrote.