Coronavirus

New COVID-19 Variant With ‘Unusual’ Mutations Detected In These Countries

By
OB Bureau

Johannesburg: A new COVID-19 variant with ‘unusual’ mutations has been detected, forcing the World Health Organization (WHO) to sit up and take note.

The new variant, called B.1.1529, has been circulating in South Africa and Botswana. According to a statement in the Science Media Centre, B.1.1529 variant carries an unusually large number of mutations.

Francois Balloux, director of UCL Genetics Institute, said it’s likely to have evolved during a chronic infection of an immuno-compromised person, possibly in an untreated HIV/AIDS patient.

“It is difficult to predict how transmissible it may be at this stage. For the time being, it should be closely monitored and analysed, but there is no reason to get overly concerned, unless it starts going up in frequency in the near future,” Balloux said.

World Health Organization (WHO) officials met on Thursday to discuss the new variant.

B.1.1529 variant has been found in 22 cases in South Africa, the country’s National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) stated.

“It is not surprising that a new variant has been detected in South Africa. 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,” NICD Acting Executive Director Adrian Puren said.

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention will meet South African health officials next week to discuss the new variant.

OB Bureau

Recent Posts

19-Yr-Old Gangraped, Filmed & Blackmailed In Odisha’s Cuttack City; 6 Including Boyfriend Arrested

Cuttack: Badambadi police have arrested six persons for allegedly gangraping and blackmailing a college girl…

November 8, 2024

Salman Khan Gets Yet Another Threat Over Song Linking Him With Lawrence Bishnoi

New Delhi: A day after the threat to Shah Rukh Khan, Bollywood actor Salman Khan…

November 8, 2024

OHRC Seeks Report From Odisha Govt On Mango Kernel Deaths In Kandhamal

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) has sent notices to Secretaries of Food &…

November 7, 2024

Why Are Kartik Aaryan’s Parents Scared Of Bollywood?

New Delhi: Even as his recently-released horror comedy ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3’ continues to mint money…

November 7, 2024

How Delhi Police Cracked Gangrape Of Odisha Researcher; Cop In Guise Of Social Worker, Footage Of 700 CCTVs

New Delhi/Bhubaneswar: After over 20 days of investigation and analysing more than 700 CCTV cameras,…

November 7, 2024

‘No Notification Exists’: HC Closes Plea Against 1988 Ban On Salman Rushdie’s ‘The Satanic Verses’

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has closed proceedings on a petition challenging the Rajiv…

November 7, 2024

Criticised For Touching His Wife’s Feet, Vikrant Massey Gives It Back To Trollers

Mumbai: ‘12th Fail’ actor Vikrant Massey recently got trolled after pictures of him touching his…

November 7, 2024

Threat Call: Was Shah Rukh Khan Targeted For His Deer-Hunting Dialogue In ‘Anjaam’?

Mumbai: Mumbai Police swung into action immediately after Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan received a…

November 7, 2024