Should we worry about new Covid variants? Much has been made in recent weeks about the potential for new Covid strains to arise, and the danger of a new super variant bypassing all our vaccines and bodies’ existing defences to cause another global pandemic even worse than this one.
But while I would say that this is not impossible and could happen, it would be very unusual if this took place.
We know from previous epidemics what happens when a population encounters a new virus. When Europeans first discovered South America, the viral infections they imported – measles, chickenpox, smallpox, influenza – killed more of the indigenous people than any of the related wars taking place.
But over time, people (particularly during childhood) gradually acquire a certain level of immunity, resulting in improved survival when later exposed to these viruses.
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