Covid-19: South African scientists on Thursday detected a new COVID-19 variant in small numbers. According to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), the scientists are working to understand its potential implications. The NICD said in a statement that 22 cases of variant B.1.1.529 had been recorded following genomic sequencing.Also Read – 11 IFS Officers at Dehradun’s FRI Old Hostel, 6 People in Tibetans Colony Test COVID Positive, 2 Areas Declared Containment Zone
“Although the data are limited, our experts are working overtime with all the established surveillance systems to understand the new variant and what the potential implications could be,” the statement quoted the NICD’s Professor Adrian Puren as saying. Also Read – Maharashtra Schools Reopening: Classes For Standard 1 to 4 in Rural Areas and 1 to 7 in Urban To Resume From December 1
To recall, South Africa was the first country to detect the Beta variant last year. Beta is one of only four labelled “of concern” by the World Health Organization because there is evidence that it is more transmissible and vaccines work less well against it. Also Read – MK Stalin Urges Centre to Resume Direct Flights With Singapore, Malaysia For Benefits of Tamil Diaspora
The new variant, called B.1.1529, carries an unusually large number of mutations, Francois Balloux, director of the UCL Genetics Institute, said in a statement published by the Science Media Centre. It’s likely to have evolved during a chronic infection of an immuno-compromised person, possibly in an untreated HIV/AIDS patient, he said.
“It is not surprising that a new variant has been detected in South Africa,” NICD Acting Executive Director Adrian Puren said in the statement. “Although the data are limited, our experts are working overtime with all the established surveillance systems to understand the new variant and what the potential implications could be. Developments are occurring at a rapid pace and the public has our assurance that we will keep them up to date.”
Covid-19: South African scientists on Thursday detected a new COVID-19 variant in small numbers. According to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), the scientists are working to understand its potential implications. The NICD said in a statement that 22 cases of variant B.1.1.529 had been recorded following genomic sequencing.Also Read – 11 IFS Officers at Dehradun’s FRI Old Hostel, 6 People in Tibetans Colony Test COVID Positive, 2 Areas Declared Containment Zone
“Although the data are limited, our experts are working overtime with all the established surveillance systems to understand the new variant and what the potential implications could be,” the statement quoted the NICD’s Professor Adrian Puren as saying. Also Read – Maharashtra Schools Reopening: Classes For Standard 1 to 4 in Rural Areas and 1 to 7 in Urban To Resume From December 1
To recall, South Africa was the first country to detect the Beta variant last year. Beta is one of only four labelled “of concern” by the World Health Organization because there is evidence that it is more transmissible and vaccines work less well against it. Also Read – MK Stalin Urges Centre to Resume Direct Flights With Singapore, Malaysia For Benefits of Tamil Diaspora
The new variant, called B.1.1529, carries an unusually large number of mutations, Francois Balloux, director of the UCL Genetics Institute, said in a statement published by the Science Media Centre. It’s likely to have evolved during a chronic infection of an immuno-compromised person, possibly in an untreated HIV/AIDS patient, he said.
“It is not surprising that a new variant has been detected in South Africa,” NICD Acting Executive Director Adrian Puren said in the statement. “Although the data are limited, our experts are working overtime with all the established surveillance systems to understand the new variant and what the potential implications could be. Developments are occurring at a rapid pace and the public has our assurance that we will keep them up to date.”