Max De Moor, Ans DebruyneSource: BELGA, Nature, NYT, Guardian, BBC, Sky
—
A new variant of the coronavirus is worrying scientists and policymakers. The distribution of the B.1.1.529 variant is closely monitored. It was first spotted in Botswana and is now appearing more and more in South Africa. The variant could also be identified in Hong Kong. The virus had traveled with it from South Africa.
So far, just over 80 confirmed cases in total are known. In the South African province of Gauteng, where infections increased rapidly among young people, the new variant was behind all 77 samples analyzed so far. Scientists fear that the variant may have already spread to most provinces in South Africa.
What makes the B.1.1.529 variant special is that numerous mutations occur in the spike proteins. That protein penetrates the human cells and attaches itself to them. The vaccines are designed in such a way that the immune system is triggered against such spike proteins. Mutations in those proteins can make it more difficult for our immune system.
Belgian microbiologist Emmanuel André tweeted that the recent increase in infections in South Africa may be due to the new variant, which will probably be dubbed the ‘now variant’. “This variant shows 30 mutations in the spikes that are linked to infectivity and to the mechanisms that can escape our immune system. A large number of questions need to be answered quickly (vaccine effectiveness, virulence (the power of the virus, ed.), infectiousness),” the microbiologist writes. “This variant reminds us that the virus is incredibly adaptable,” he concludes.
Here is inserted content from a social media network that wants to write or read cookies. You have not given permission for this.
–
“Great Leap in Evolution”
Professor Tulio de Oliveira, director of the Center for Epidemic Response and Innovation in South Africa, speaks of an “unusual constellation of mutations” and says that B.1.1.529 is “very different” from other variants. “This variant surprised us, it has a big leap in evolution and many more mutations than we expected.” According to the South African professor, there are a total of 50 mutations and more than 30 on the spike protein.
“They worry us that this virus may have increased transmissibility, an increased ability to spread from person to person, but also that it may be able to evade parts of the immune system,” said Professor Richard Lessells of the University of Groningen. KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa.
“It is still too early to say anything about contagiousness or effectiveness against the vaccines,” South African virologist Penny Moore told the trade journal. Nature. Her lab is investigating just that aspect of the virus. In two weeks they hope to have more insight into the variant’s capacity to circumvent our immune system.
The WHO already responded to the call from South African scientist for expert advice and will bring an expert group around the table on Friday to discuss the ‘now variant’. The WHO determines whether the variant is categorized as a ‘variant of concern’.
“Worst variant so far”
Although there is still a lot of uncertainty about the properties of the variant, the British health agency UKHSA is already talking about the “worst we’ve seen yet”. And Health Minister Sajid Javid said there were fears that available vaccines would be less effective against it.
The British government therefore does not wait and puts six southern African countries on the ‘red list’. From Friday afternoon, flights from South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Botswana, Swaziland and Zimbabwe will be canceled. Anyone who still arrives from the countries from 4 a.m. on Sunday morning must be quarantined at a hotel for 10 days. The rule is reversed if it turns out that the variant is less bad than feared.
So far, no cases of the new variant have been identified in the United Kingdom. According to the PA news agency, about 500 to 700 travelers from South Africa arrive in the country every day. Hundreds of travelers from South Africa are now being traced to be tested for the variant.
Israel is already banning air traffic. That put South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Botswana, Swaziland, Zimbabwe and Mozambique on the red list.
More contagious than delta?
Viruses are constantly mutating. Scientists monitor those mutations and usually they are not a cause for concern. However, there is a possibility that a mutation will occur that the vaccines are less able to cope with. This was already the case, for example, with the delta variant, which is currently dominant in Europe and the culprit in the fourth wave.
The new coronavirus variant B.1.1.529 may be even more contagious than the delta variant. “Beta was all immunity escape and nothing else, Delta had contagiousness and modest immunity escape, this may have both to a great extent,” said Cambridge University Professor Ravi Gupta.
– .
