One evil seldom comes alone: the first cases of the British virus variant have been discovered in Great Britain, which also contain a genetic modification of the South African virus line.
This is worrying because it could combine two negative properties – the British variant B.1.1.7 already makes the virus much more contagious. Unlike the British mutant, the even more contagious South African corona variant 501Y.V2 also carries the mutation E484K – the same mutation that can also be found in two Brazilian variants.
Possible danger also for vaccinated and convalescent people
The mutations are said to be particularly contagious in young people under the age of 20. In addition, the E484K mutation ensures that the neutralizing antibodies that you have in you through a vaccination or a survived corona infection no longer bind to the virus as stably.
It is only through extensive sequencing that it is possible to find out which virus variants are where
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This may not only reduce the effectiveness of existing vaccines, but those who have already recovered could possibly become infected again with the virus. Such isolated multiple infections with E484K mutations have already been reported from Brazil.
Sequencing gives a more precise overview
Since the British health authorities sequence the samples taken much more intensively than, for example, the German, there is much more precise information from the United Kingdom about which virus variants are currently on the move.
The American epidemiologist Eric Feigl-Ding of the Federation of American Scientists described this development as “NOT GOOD”. “The virus is such a beast”.
The virologist Julian Tang from the University of Leicester described the cases that have occurred as a “worrying development”. A further spread could one “Melting pot” will enable various new variants, Tang told the BBC. It is now all the more important that people follow the lockdown rules and that the corona cases are contained. Otherwise, the virus could not only spread further, but also develop further.
If these mutation combinations prevail, this would make it much more difficult to contain the pandemic. If more people become infected in less time, this could cause the already overloaded health systems to collapse.
Vaccine effectiveness under scrutiny
We are now working under high pressure to see how the already approved vaccines cope with the mutations and mutation combinations. According to Biontech / Pfizer, their vaccine is also highly effective against the mutant from Great Britain and South Africa. According to one information, the vaccine from competitor Moderna works with the British variant, but it is six times less effective with the South African variant, according to epidemiologist Feigl-Ding in his tweet.
At the same time as testing for effectiveness, vaccine producers around the world are already developing appropriate updates for their vaccines that are adapted to the new virus variants. But it is well known that development, testing, approval, production and vaccination take time.
These people in Singapore watch a movie in the open air – by far, but that’s more than is currently possible in many other countries. The small island nation attributes the very low number of new infections since October to the strict monitoring of its citizens – using an app, among other things.
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The world under the control of the coronavirus
Despair in South Africa
South Africa is the country most severely affected by the corona pandemic on the African continent. This patient in a hospital near Cape Town is one of 1.4 million infected so far. A new variant of the virus, also known as B.1.351 or 501Y.V2, is of particular concern. Similar to the British corona mutation, the South African one is said to be many times more contagious.
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The world under the control of the coronavirus
Corona – also on the beach
In Australia, many people are currently looking to cool off in the sea in view of summer temperatures. So that overcrowded beaches do not cause a renewed increase in the corona numbers, signs remind you that social distancing is also necessary in the sun on the beach. There have been very few new infections in Australia since the end of September.
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The world under the control of the coronavirus
The pain of loved ones
16-year-old Kelvia Goncalves cries uninhibitedly at the grave of her mother Andrea dos Reis Brasao in Manaus. Brasao has only turned 39 – and one of the many victims of COVID-19 in the Brazilian metropolis, where oxygen is in short supply for those affected. More and more Brazilians blame right-wing extremist President Jair Bolsonaro for the catastrophic conditions in the country.
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The world under the control of the coronavirus
Better safe than sorry?
A whole bunch of health workers are out and about in a cordoned off part of Hong Kong to carry out corona tests. Due to a sharp increase in infections, particularly affected areas were recently cordoned off without warning. In the fight against Corona, the Chinese Special Administrative Region relies on similarly rigorous measures as mainland China – and has so far hardly been affected.
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The world under the control of the coronavirus
A concert of a different kind
While many other events only take place digitally, the Flaming Lips have come up with something special for their fans: In Oklahoma City, the rock musicians gave a concert in which inflatable plastic balls were used. So the visitors could listen to their music without fear of Corona. Frontman Wayne Coyne even rolled over the audience in his own ball.
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The world under the control of the coronavirus
Inoculation with organ sounds
In times of closed churches there is a lot of space in places of worship. The cathedral in Lichfield, UK, was quickly transformed into a vaccination center. In Great Britain, unlike in the EU, there is no shortage of vaccines so that vaccines can still be used.
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The world under the control of the coronavirus
A light at the end of the tunnel
Egyptian Amy Ezzat is preparing a cake in the form of a vaccine that reads “Coronavirus Vaccine” and “Bye Bye Corona”. She wants to distribute the symbolic candy to COVID patients in a hospital in Cairo. Although vaccination campaigns are getting off to a slow start in many places, the corona vaccines are currently the only bright spot for many.
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