South African scientists warn a new variant of Covid-19 may show immune evasion and enhance transmissibility

news7g11/26/2021

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South African scientists warn a new variant of Covid-19 may show immune evasion and enhance transmissibility

Health Minister Joe Phaahla said: “It looked like some sort of outbreak at first, but from yesterday scientists from our Genomic Surveillance Network showed they were observing a variable. new variant,” said Health Minister Joe Phaahla, noting that it is still unclear where the variant – now named B.1.1.529 – first appeared.

So far it has been detected in South Africa, Botswana and in a tourist arriving in Hong Kong from South Africa, Phaahla added.

In a press conference, genomics scientists said variant has an unusually high number of mutations, with more than 30 in important spike protein – the structure that viruses use to enter the cells they attack.

Professor Tulio de Oliveira, director of the Center for Disease Response and Innovation, said the variant had “more mutations than we expected”, adding that “it is” spreading very quickly and they I expect to see pressure on the health system in the near term. days and weeks. ”

He advised the public to “try to avoid super viral events.”

Officials also expressed concern that the mutation could lead to immune evasion and enhanced transmissibility of the virus, but added that it was too early to say what kind of impact the mutation would have on efficacy. vaccine results. More studies are also needed to understand the clinical severity of the variant compared with previous variants, officials said.

“The full significance of this variation is still uncertain and the best tool we have is still a vaccine,” De Oliveira said. He added that laboratory studies still need to be done to test the evading ability of vaccines and antibodies.

UK bans flights from 6 African countries

Also on Thursday, UK officials announced that six African countries would be added to Britain’s travel “red list” after the UK Health Security Agency flagged concerns about the virus. this body.

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UK Health Minister Sajid Javid said flights to the UK from South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Botswana, Eswatini and Zimbabwe will be suspended from Friday noon and all six countries will be added. redlist – means UK residents and UK and Irish nationals arriving home from those points of departure must undergo a 10-day hotel quarantine at their own expense.

“UKHSA is investigating a new variant. More data is needed but we are taking precautions right now,” Javid said, adding that the variant identified in South Africa “could be easily transmitted. than” strain Delta and that “the vaccine we currently have may be less effective.”

Javid added that the UK “has not detected any of these new variants” in the country so far.

On Friday, South African officials will release briefs on the World Health Organization, which has classified B.1.1.529 as a “variant under observation.”

South Africa, like most countries in the region, has experienced three important Covid-19 waves since the pandemic started. While the current number of new infections nationwide remains relatively low and the outlook is less than 5%, public health officials have predicted a fourth wave due to slow absorption of the vaccine.

CNN’s Duarte Mendonca contributed to this report.

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