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FACT BRIEF

Is it true that there has never been a virus mutation that resulted in a virus that was more lethal?

By Alexis Tereszcuk
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NO

Two experts told Lead Stories that while the Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus may be less lethal in itself, a claim on social media ignores the effects a more transmissible strain will have on the health care system and people, ultimately causing more deaths.

Also, published studies showed that the Ebola virus did mutate into a more deadly version during the 2013-16 outbreak. One expert told Lead Stories that Ebola has not mutated into a less lethal virus and continues to have a 95% fatality rate.

Regarding COVID-19, Dr. Rita Burke, an epidemiologist at the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, said: "With the Delta variant we are concerned that it is more transmissible ... If more people show up to the hospital and overwhelm the hospital we will be back in the same situation and some people will die."

See a full discussion of this at Lead Stories
This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
Cell Ebola Virus Glycoprotein with Increased Infectivity Dominated the 2013–2016 Epidemic
Gizmodo The Ebola Virus Mutated Into a Deadlier Form During the West African Epidemic
ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR
Lead Stories
Lead Stories is a fact checking and debunking website at the intersection of big data and journalism that launched in 2015. It scouts for trending stories, images, videos and posts that contain false information in order to fact check them as quickly as possible. It actively monitors the fake-news ecosystem and doesn’t wait for reader tips or reports before getting started on a story.
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About fact briefs published on Gigafact
Fact briefs are short, credibly sourced summaries that offer “yes/no” answers in response to claims found online. They rely on publicly available, often primary source data and documents. Fact briefs are created by contributors to Gigafact —a nonprofit project looking to expand participation in fact-checking and protect the democratic process. See all fact briefs here.