As we all have noticed the Omicron variant has been on the rise spreading globally at a speedy pace.  This isn’t the first variant and probably won’t be the last, so let’s learn more about what is a variant of a virus, why they occur, and how in the hell are we in this position.


What


Viruses as I talked about in my previous article can only replicate by infecting a host cell and making a copies of itself. However, sometimes those copies wind up being not exactly perfect. Sort of like the Pop Copy of office supplies stores; you might get what you want some of the time. These not so perfect copies overtime become a virus that is different from it’s original parent strain called a variant. Variants are sort of like the mutants of the marvel comics, some are just subtle changes and really have little effect on the pathology of the virus AKA Jubilee (really how in the hell did she make it on the X-Men by literally trying to sparkle people to death?) Other variants have greater changes that can increase the pathology of the virus significantly AKA Jean Grey AKA The Phoenix AKA did she really just burn Cyclops to a crisp?


So as it pertains to COVID we have had quite a few variants pop up over the last 2 years. A list of them can be found below with a brief description.
Delta
What to Know: It’s more than twice as contagious as the O.G Coronavirus. Antibody treatments and vaccination may be less effective against it.
First Identified In: India in October 2020
Where It Is Now: Every fucking where.  It’s worldwide baby!
Omicron
What to Know: Not much is known about Omicron yet, but it may be more transmissible than Delta and has replaced Delta as the leading variant in South Africa. Vaccines and monoclonal antibody treatments may be less effective against it.
First Identified In: Multiple countries in November 2021
Where It Is Now: Omicron has been detected in multiple countries and more than 30 U.S. states.  Basically it’s about to blow up!
Variants Being Monitored:
Alpha
What to Know: Compared to the original coronavirus, it’s about 50 percent more transmissible, and it may cause more severe disease. Convalescent therapy and vaccination may be minimally impacted.
First Identified In: U.K. in September 2020
Where It Is Now: Few cases are currently being reported.
Beta 
What to Know: Compared to the original coronavirus, it’s about 50 percent more transmissible. One type of antibody treatment is significantly less effective against it, and convalescent therapy and vaccination are less effective against it.
First Identified In: South Africa in May 2020
Where It Is Now: Few cases are currently being reported.
Gamma
What to Know: One type of antibody treatment is significantly less effective against it, and convalescent therapy and vaccination are less effective against it.
First Identified In: Brazil in November 2020
Where It Is Now: Few cases are currently being reported.
Epsilon
What to Know: It may be more transmissible, and vaccination may be less effective against it.
First Identified In: California in July 2020
Where It Is Now: Few cases are currently being reported.
Eta
What to Know: Antibody treatments, convalescent plasma therapy, and vaccination may be less effective against it.
First Identified In: U.K. and Nigeria in December 2020
Where It Is Now: Few cases are currently being reported.
Iota
What to Know: Less susceptible to a certain type of antibody treatment. Convalescent plasma therapy and vaccination may be less effective against it.
First Identified In: New York in November 2020
Where It Is Now: Few cases are currently being reported.
Kappa
What to Know: Some antibody treatments and vaccination may be less effective against it.
First Identified In: India in December 2020
Where It Is Now: Few cases are currently being reported.
B.1.617.3
What to Know: Some antibody treatments and vaccination may be less effective against it. Listed by the CDC but not by the WHO.
First Identified In: India in October 2020
Where It Is Now: Few cases are currently being reported.
Zeta
What to Know: It may have been more likely to cause reinfection.
First Identified In: Brazil in April 2020
Where It Is Now: Few cases are currently being reported.
Mu
What to Know: Vaccination may be less effective against it. Recently listed by the WHO, but not by the CDC.
First Identified In: Colombia in January 2021
Where It Is Now: Few cases are currently being reported.


Listing of information provided by https://www.fatherly.com/health-science/how-many-covid-variants-are-there/amp/.


Why


As you can tell from the list of COVID fraternities and sororities converging on the yard, it’s easy to see that they arose from all over the world.  So why do they occur? Well that’s just adaptability.  In a broad sense, it doesn’t benefit a virus to remain the same over time.  Most organisms have a immune system that can quickly adapt to the presence of a foreign body.  So the next time say you or me run into the original strain of COVID we probably would be better off then before.  I go into more detail how the virus replicates in my previous article in case you are interested.


This is great for us as humans but let’s be honest the virus ain’t thinking about that.  It’s trying hustle it’s way to stardom and sometimes that means re-inventing yourself like Mariah Carey.  That reinvention comes from mutations that come from bad copies typically made by you guessed it…..us. The virus hijacks our cells and uses our own machinery to replicate itself. Unfortunately, the new replicates have mutations that can manifest themselves in many different ways.  Some mutations allow for more severe disease, while some may allow for a higher ability to transmit from person to person.  Some mutations may have both and a mutation that allows it to replicate faster.  All because of us, well at least the unvaccinated people.  Which brings me to the last section.


How


How in fucks name did we get here? Especially in a time of vaccination?  Well this is where it gets complicated.  The vaccine was rolled out under EUA (emergency use authorization) in late December 2019.  This vaccine was widely available to the U.S. and Europe but like I said, COVID went global baby!  And looking at that list of variants, COVID is just getting started.
This is where Western exceptionalism takes center stage.  Vaccine distribution throughout the U.S., Europe, and Australia was rapid and effective once things were approved, but getting to other continents such as Africa, South America, much of Asia were tedious and difficult.  Some reasons were simple logistical challenges of transporting a frozen drug into tropical area. 

However, other challenges are something I myself have had a hard time accepting.
For one, American capitalism often values money over lives and in this case I.P. (intellectual property) over lives.  It has been known for some time that corporate executives would like to fiercely protect their I.P.  Even in the face of a pandemic the CEO’s of Pfizer and Moderna have made it known that they are afraid of the counterfeit drug trade and loosing I.P. to it in countries such as South Africa.  Like Denzel Washington from American Gangster, don’t copyright my shit.  Ironically, that’s exactly the place the Omicron was first identified.  Same as the Gamma variant in South America.  See the pattern here?  The fact that the vaccines haven’t made there way across the globe in a equitable manner due to concern of I.P. issues is a direct indictment  corporate greed, putting profits before people, and is correlating to why the virus has been able to change, infect, and kill more people.

  
Which brings me to my last point and if you have read any of my articles on COVID you know where I am going with this.  For fucks sake people get your shot or at least put on a God-damned mask!  I understand the hesistancy for getting as shot especially now that it has been politicized, but it’s so clear as to why we this virus keeps spreading and in this case mutating.  And yes you may be asking why should I take the vaccine since the virus is changing so much?   Well sense we are in the mood to ask so many damn questions why not get the shot so we don’t have to worry about the next strain of super COVID?  Or how about we put on a fucking mask? Either will work but both are better. So I leave you with the words of E-40 “everybody got choices”…. Just make a good one please.