Coronavirus now has two strains, and you can get both
March 6, 2020, 11:42 am

Coronavirus now has two strains, and you can get both

A passenger wears a protective face mask at the airport, following the outbreak of the new coronavirus in Hong Kong. (Reuters)

Two different types of coronavirus strains could be causing infections worldwide, according to researchers at China’s Peking University.

“Almost 70 percent of the analyzed strains were linked to a more aggressive type of coronavirus, dubbed as the ‘L type,’ while the remaining 30 percent had been caused by a lesser aggressive ‘S type,’ the findings said.

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Wuhan, the Chinese city where the coronavirus was first detected in December 2019, was affected by the more aggressive type of virus. But gradually its frequency has decreased from early January. The new variations of the spike in coronavirus cases were caused by mutations and natural selection besides recombination, the researchers said.

Possible to be infected with both coronavirus strains

Genetic analysis of a man in the US who tested positive in January showed it is possible to be infected with both strains of the virus.

The study was conducted by the scientists at Peking University’s School of Life Sciences and the Institute Pasteur of Shanghai and was published in the National Science Review, the journal of the Chinese Academy of Science.

The discovery could make developing a vaccine more difficult. However, the researchers said follow-up studies would be needed to get a clearer picture of the virus’s evolution as the data was still “very limited.”

“These findings strongly support an urgent need for further immediate, comprehensive studies that combine genomic data, epidemiological data, and chart records of the clinical symptoms of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19),” they said.

source: Muhammed Nafie

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”