WHO Says Coronavirus Isn't Mutating Dangerously

The World Health Organization says SARS-CoV-2, the virus that is causing COVID-19, is not changing into a more dangerous form.

Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, an infectious disease epidemiologist with WHO, said Wednesday that because it is an RNA virus, basic changes or mutations in its genomic sequence can be expected over time.

“None of these changes so far indicate that the virus itself is changing form in terms of its ability to transmit or to cause more severe disease,” she said, according to Fox News.

The Guardian reported that British and American scientists examined 15,000 genomes, or genetic structures, of the coronavirus and found no signs that the virus is becoming more transmissible. In fact, the researchers found that mutations they observed “either had a neutral impact on the virus, or were actually detrimental to it.”

Kerkhove said that the greater threat to our global health was relaxing social distancing rules, according to Fox. She said she worried that people are growing tired of public health and social measures.

“It’s very difficult to keep all of these measures and we must remain strong and vigilant,” she said.