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Covid Mutation 101 Simplified

by | Jan 18, 2021

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Covid-19 spread around the globe this year, and several virologists wondered how the Covid mutation might happen as it is passed from one person to another.

Is Covid-19 mutating?

Mutations are usually a chance, event, or change that will have little impact on a virus’s properties. As explained by experts in the evolution of pathogens. All viruses naturally mutate, and Sars-CoV-2 is no exception, accumulating an estimated one or two changes a month.

Is Covid-19 mutation a concern?

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), some covid mutations may influence how fast the virus spreads.

While scientists have spotted thousands of mutations or changes to the virus’s genetic material, only one has so far been singled out as possibly altering its behaviour.

Lab experiments suggest this Covid mutation may help the virus bind to human cells, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Scientists are now hurrying to find out more about the mutations seen in the UK variant, which has also been spotted in Australia, Denmark, Italy, Iceland, and the Netherlands.

Covid-19 mutation and the vaccine 

The UK variant has 14 mutations that cause a change in protein building blocks (amino acids) and three deletions (missing bits of genetic code).

The deletion and change of protein blocks of the virus may give some clues to how the variant evolved. Perhaps in a patient with a weakened immune system. And that was unable to fight off the virus enabling it to linger in the body for several months. Accumulating mutations along the way.

A key question is whether the mutations might have implications for the effectiveness of vaccines? Although many experts consider this unlikely, at least in the short term.

What to expect after Covid-19 mutation?

Viruses don’t have a plan. They mutate constantly, and while some changes will help a virus reproduce, some may hinder it. Others are simply neutral. 

And when studied in laboratory conditions, the mutated virus was better at entering human cells than those without the variation. Changes to the spike protein the virus uses to latch on to human cells seem to allow it to stick together better and function more efficiently, at least in the lab. Though it is still unclear how the virus’s behaviour would act during transmission in real patients?

Covid-19 symptoms

Covid-19 symptoms is not the same with everyone.

Scientists using data on the health of four million people say Covid has six sub-types.

Symptoms include:

  • Flu-like with no fever: Headache, loss of smell, muscle pains, cough, sore throat, chest pain, no fever.
  • Flu-like with fever: Headache, loss of smell, cough, sore throat, hoarseness, fever, loss of appetite.
  • Gastrointestinal: Headache, loss of smell, loss of appetite, diarrhea, sore throat, chest pain, no cough.
  • Fatigue (severe level one): Headache, loss of smell, cough, fever, hoarseness, chest pain, fatigue
  • Confusion (severe level two): Headache, loss of smell, loss of appetite, cough, fever, hoarseness, sore throat, chest pain, fatigue, confusion, muscle pain.
  • Abdominal and respiratory (severe level three): Headache, loss of smell, loss of appetite, cough, fever, hoarseness, sore throat, chest pain, fatigue, confusion, muscle pain, shortness of breath, diarrhea, abdominal pain

And researchers think that vomiting, diarrheas, and abdominal cramps could be a sign of coronavirus infection in children.

covid mutation

How could you protect yourself and your family?

We should all follow basic precautions, such as washing hands frequently, avoiding touching our eyes, wearing a face mask when in public, and using a tissue when coughing. 
Besides, sleeping well, exercising, and avoiding stress have a role in boosting our immunity system.
Saying the morning and evening Adhkar (supplications) protects us by the will of Allah from any harm.

Dua for protection from Covid-19 Corona virus

This dua is for protection from illness carries an important reminder that our refuge is always in Allah (SWT):

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْبَرَصِ، وَالْجُنُونِ، وَالْجُذَامِ، وَمِنْ سَيِّئِ الأَسْقَامِ

Allah humma inni a’udhu bika minal-barasi, wal-jununi, wal-judhaami, wa min sayyi’il-asqaami

“O Allah, I seek refuge in You from leprosy, insanity, elephantiasis, and the worst of diseases.”

[Abu Dawud]

Power food diet from the Quran

The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) has advised us to consume the superfoods mentioned in the Quran. This nutrient-rich food has the ability to enormously increase the vital force and energy of one’s body and is the best choice for improving overall health.

On top of the list are:

-Dates

-Pomegranate

-Grapes

-Black seeds

-Fig

-Olives

-Honey

There emerges from their bellies a drink, varying in colours, in which there is healing for people. Indeed in that is a sign for a people who give thought.”

Surah An Nahl, 69

“And He is who causes gardens to grow, [both] trellised and untrellised, and palm trees and crops of different [kinds of] food and olives and pomegranates, similar and dissimilar. Eat of [each of] its fruit when it yields and gives it’s due [zakah] on the day of its harvest. And be not excessive. Indeed, He does not like those who commit excess.

[Surah al-Anaam, 6:141]

“And a tree (olive) that springs forth from Mount Sinai, that grows oil and (it is a) relish for the eaters.”

[Surah al-Muminoon 23:20].

Olive in Hadith

Abu Aseed said: “The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Eat the oil and use it on your hair and skin, for it comes from a blessed tree.” 

(Reported by al-Tirmidhi, 1775; see also Saheeh al-Jaami

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