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Officers say they’ve discovered a new coronavirus strain in South Africa, which is concerning.
Officers say they’ve discovered a brand-new coronavirus called B.1.1.529 in South Africa. The extra pressure could exacerbate worries of an outbreak in several countries, putting strain on health-care systems and complicating vaccination refusal and efforts to reopen businesses and borders, sending a wave of risk aversion into global markets on Friday.
So far, here is all we know:
What distinguishes this variation from others?
According to scientists, B.1.1.529’s spike protein, which plays a key role in the virus’s entry into cells, contains multiple alterations. Vaccines also have a significant impact. Researchers are still figuring out if it’s more contagious or deadly than previous strains.
What was the source of this?
There could only be speculation at this time. According to a scientist at London’s UCL Genetics Institute, an untreated HIV / AIDS patient can develop while being infected by an immune-related individual on a continuous basis. South Africa has the highest rate of HIV infection in the planet, with 8.2 million people infected. The beta variety, which was discovered in South Africa last year, could have come from someone who was HIV-positive.
Is it fully functional?
About 100 cases had been reported as of Thursday in South Africa, where the new virus has become a major threat. According to Tulio de Oliveira, a bio-informatics professor who runs two gene-sequencing organisations in South Africa, preliminary PCR examine outcomes show that 90 percent of the 1,100 new cases reported Wednesday in the South African province were caused by a brand new strain, including Johannesburg. Universities
This new variant is really worrisome at the mutational level. South Africa and Africa will need support (financially, public health, scientific) to control it so it does not spread in the world. Our poor and deprived population can not be in lockdown without financial support. pic.twitter.com/CeJIXudUIA
— Tulio de Oliveira (@Tuliodna) November 25, 2021
Authorities in neighbouring Botswana recorded four cases of patients who were fully immunised on Monday. This type was discovered in a South African tourist in Hong Kong, and another instance was identified as a person quarantined in a hotel room in the corridor.
How did people react?
The news of the new variation sparked a rally in the markets on Friday, with travel-related stocks in Asia plummeting the most as traders predicted a negative impact on tourism. The United Kingdom has issued a temporary ban on flights to six African countries, while Australia has indicated that if the situation worsens, it will not hesitate to strengthen border controls for South African tourists. Tourists from South Africa, Botswana, and Hong Kong have been subjected to increased scrutiny in India. The yen surged 0.4 percent against the dollar, while the South African rand fell to a one-year low.
Isn’t that concerning?
It’s too soon to tell. According to the World Health Organization, there are fewer than 100 genome sequences of the new variant available, which could increase the time it takes to review them as well as how well current vaccines perform against them. Viruses are constantly changing, with changes either weakening the virus or making it more adept at avoiding antibodies and infecting humans.
What should we be looking for next?
On Friday, the WHO convened a meeting to discuss B.1.1.529 and decide whether it should be legally designated as a type of curiosity or concern. If it does, it will be given the label of the Greek letter, which is presumably the letter “nu,” according to the WHO naming process. In reaction to a variety of data, governments will most likely take action on border and travel restrictions.
Dr @mvankerkhove gives an update on #COVID19 virus variant B.1.1.529, during the #AskWHO session on 25 November 2021 ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/ZpflfEYzW9
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) November 25, 2021