A deadly new strain of coronavirus has been discovered that is currently sweeping through Brazil.
In an even scarier revelation, new research from the Brazilian public health institute Fiocruz has found this particular variant is three times deadlier for younger people than previous strains.
The variant, which is 150 per cent more infectious than regular Covid-19, is known as P1 and has been described as like a 'viral match to kerosene'.
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According to news.com.au, the strain seems to be spreading rapidly among younger people in Brazil.
Cases of people in their 30s testing positive have soared 565 per cent since January. There's also been a 626 per cent rise in people in their 40s getting coronavirus and 525 per cent jump in people in their 50s.
Not only is the strain more likely to infect younger people, but those who contract it are also more likely to die from it.
The country is being overwhelmed to the point that gravediggers have been forced to exhume old tombs to make space for the more than 300,000 dead.
The number of daily deaths from the virus in Brazil has now surpassed more than 3,000 a day.
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Dr Anne Menezes from Getulio Vargas Hospital in the jungle city of Manaus told Al Jazeera: "Last year, we had more critical elderly patients. Now, it's completely distinct. We're dealing with a substantial number of severe patients in their 30s to 50s."
Dr Eric Liang Feigl-Ding, an epidemiologist from Harvard, also detailed the terrifying extent of the variant, telling 9News: "The entire country has no ICU beds left. The deaths are soaring exponentially ... like through the roof.
"P1 could be the variant that is the big troublemaker for the next surge," he said.
Concerningly, the strain has now made its way to other countries, with the US discovering the variant at end of January.
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The CDC has since reported 48 cases in the US, with a patient at Mount Sinai hospital in New York City confirmed to have contracted the Brazilian variant just a few weeks ago.
Governor Andrew Cuomo said at the time: "The detection of the Brazilian variant here in New York further underscores the importance of taking all the appropriate steps to continue to protect your health."
The Brazilian variant also struck Canada's Vancouver Canucks hockey team, with more than half the team being diagnosed with the deadly strain.
Dr Eric Liana Feigl-Ding added that the cases within the sporting team are cause for major concern.
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"More than 50 per cent of its team sickened, many decimated 'very ill'," he tweeted. "Despite strict workplace protocols. Despite big PPE budget. Despite daily testing. The P. 1 variant is just that badass."
Featured Image Credit: PATopics: News, Brazil, Covid-19