Belgium confirms 1 new case of Covid-19 variant detected for the first time in South Africa
South Africa’s Minister of Health on Thursday announced the discovery of a Coronavirus variant seems to be spreading rapidly in parts of the country.
Health Minister Joe Phaahla said: “It looked like some sort of outbreak at first, but from yesterday scientists from our Genomic Surveillance Network showed that they were observing an outbreak. new variant”. variant – now named B.1.1.529 – appeared for the first time.
So far, it has been discovered in South Africa, Botswana and in a tourist arriving 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.
CNN’s Duarte Mendonca contributed to this report.
