Ever since COVID-19 was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on January 30th, 2020 and subsequently declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11th, 2020, a topic that quickly followed was the speed at which the virus was mutating. The reality is that mutations are a normal part of the life cycle in microorganisms and infectious agents such as viruses. Nonetheless, there is a lot of public concern and uncertainty about these mutations and the global impact they will have down the road. In this episode of the Public Health Insight, we introduce viruses as infectious agents, the concept of mutations, and how it impacts a virus’s ability to spread.

References for Our Discussion 

• World Health Organization: SARS-CoV2 Variants
• Science Mag: Viral mutations may cause another ‘very very bad’ COVID-19 wave scientists warn
• Vox: The Coronavirus is mutating. Now what?

Podcast Co-Hosts

• Leshawn Benedict, MPH, MSc, CAPM®
• William Wang, BA, MPH
• Gordon Thane, BMSc, MPH
• Sulaiman Alhalbouni, BMSc, MPH

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Music Credits

• Tokyo Music Walker - Way Home
• Lukrembo - Sunset

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