South African scientists detect new virus variant amid spike
3 years, 1 month ago

South African scientists detect new virus variant amid spike

The Hindu  

A new coronavirus variant has been detected in South Africa that scientists say is a concern because of its high number of mutations and rapid spread among young people in Gauteng, the country's most populous province, Health Minister Joe Phaahla announced on November 25. U.K. Health Secretary Sajid Javid said there were concerns the new variant “may be more transmissible” than the dominant delta strain, and “the vaccines that we currently have may be less effective" against it. The new variant has a “constellation” of new mutations, said Tulio de Oliveira, from the Network for Genomic Surveillance in South Africa, who has tracked the spread of the delta variant in the country. “It has a high number of spike mutations that could affect transmissibility and immune response.” Mr. Gupta said scientists in South Africa need time to determine if the surge in new cases is attributable to the new variant.

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History of this topic

New Covid-19 variant ‘IHU’ discovered in France, has more mutations than Omicron
3 years ago

New Covid-19 variant ‘IHU’ discovered in France, has more mutations than Omicron

Hindustan Times  

Scientists in France have identified a new strain of coronavirus with more mutations than the Omicron variant. The emergence of the new variant, which probably originated in Cameroon, as per the study, harbours both substitutions N501Y and E484K in the spike protein. "The mutation set and phylogenetic position of the genomes obtained here indicate based on our previous definition a …

New Covid-19 variant ‘IHU’ discovered in France, has more mutations than Omicron
3 years ago

New Covid-19 variant ‘IHU’ discovered in France, has more mutations than Omicron

Hindustan Times  

Scientists in France have identified a new strain of coronavirus with more mutations than the Omicron variant. The emergence of the new variant, which probably originated in Cameroon, as per the study, harbours both substitutions N501Y and E484K in the spike protein. "The mutation set and phylogenetic position of the genomes obtained here indicate based on our previous definition a …

Everything we know about the Omicron COVID-19 variant
3 years, 1 month ago

Everything we know about the Omicron COVID-19 variant

Salon  

There's a new COVID-19 variant on the scene, and the heavily mutated strain has experts worried about the potential for another devastating spike in cases this winter. The World Health Organization named it "Omicron" Friday, calling it a "variant of concern" — the agency's most serious designation — just as a number of countries around the world enacted a new …

Explained | What is the new coronavirus variant in South Africa?
3 years, 1 month ago

Explained | What is the new coronavirus variant in South Africa?

The Hindu  

What do we know about Omicron, the new coronavirus variant in South Africa? Formally known as B.1.1.529, the World Health Organisation had designated it as a Variant of Concern, that indicates it is quite likely to be extremely transmissible and potentially replace the dominant Delta variant. The South African Health Ministry said in a briefing that the variant so far …

How dangerous is the New Covid variant found in S.Africa? Symptoms, Treatment and all you should know
3 years, 1 month ago

How dangerous is the New Covid variant found in S.Africa? Symptoms, Treatment and all you should know

India TV News  

Highlights The new coronavirus variant found in South Africa is identified as B.1.1.529 It has more than 30 mutations, the most ever recorded in a variant and twice as many as Delta This new covid variant might make the virus more resistant to vaccines Just when the world was getting back to normal, a new coronavirus variant - B.1.1.529 - …

WHO to meet on Friday to assess new COVID-19 variant detected in South Africa
3 years, 1 month ago

WHO to meet on Friday to assess new COVID-19 variant detected in South Africa

Deccan Chronicle  

United Nations/Geneva: The World Health Organization is monitoring the new coronavirus variant B.1.1.529 first detected in South Africa and will hold a "special meeting" on Friday to discuss if the heavily mutated strain will become a variant of interest or a variant of concern, a top official said. Kerkhove said WHO colleagues in South Africa are planning to undertake a …

WHO to hold 'special meeting' over new COVID-19 variant detected in South Africa
3 years, 1 month ago

WHO to hold 'special meeting' over new COVID-19 variant detected in South Africa

India TV News  

Highlights The latest variant is the most heavily mutated version discovered so far The new variant has been red-flagged by scientists over an alarmingly high number of spike mutations To date, more than 227 million vaccine doses have been administered in Africa. The World Health Organisation is monitoring the new coronavirus variant B.1.1.529 first detected in South Africa and will …

Frequent mutations, rapid spread: All about the new coronavirus variant in South Africa
3 years, 1 month ago

Frequent mutations, rapid spread: All about the new coronavirus variant in South Africa

Hindustan Times  

A new coronavirus variant detected in South Africa's most populous Guanteng district has sent governments around the world in a state of high alert – especially in view of the fact that the variant, according to infectious diseases experts, displays a high number of mutations and rapid spread among young people. The new coronavirus variant detected in South Africa, currently …

India on alert after new Covid variant detected in Africa, govt calls for strict screening of travellers
3 years, 1 month ago

India on alert after new Covid variant detected in Africa, govt calls for strict screening of travellers

India TV News  

Highlights Govt has asked states to closely track & test the contacts of international travellers The new variant has been identified as B.1.1.529. South Africa has reported 6 cases WHO to meet on Friday to assess new COVID-19 variant detected in SA The Centre has asked states to conduct rigorous screening and testing of all international travellers coming from and …

South Africa Finds New Variant Of COVID-19 With 'Constellation Of Mutations'
3 years, 1 month ago

South Africa Finds New Variant Of COVID-19 With 'Constellation Of Mutations'

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING The United States and the European Union joined the United Kingdom and other nations on Friday to restrict air travel from the southern region of Africa due to fears over a new variant of the coronavirus found in South Africa. The US must find out if its vaccines respond to the new Covid-19 variant detected in South …

United Kingdom suspends flights to 6 African countries as new COVID variant emerges
3 years, 1 month ago

United Kingdom suspends flights to 6 African countries as new COVID variant emerges

India TV News  

Highlights Announcement comes after media reports said that new COVID variant has been detected in South Africa New variant includes large number of spike protein mutations It also includes mutations in other parts of viral genome UK Health Secretary Sajid Javid on Thursday announced a temporary suspension of flights from six countries after reports emerged that a new COVID variant …

The EU wants to stop flights from southern Africa over a new COVID variant
3 years, 1 month ago

The EU wants to stop flights from southern Africa over a new COVID variant

NPR  

The EU wants to stop flights from southern Africa over a new COVID variant Enlarge this image toggle caption Denis Farrell/AP Denis Farrell/AP BRUSSELS — The European Union said Friday it is planning to stop air travel from southern Africa to counter the spread of a new COVID-19 variant as the 27-nation bloc is battling a massive spike in cases. …

What do we know about the new COVID strain found in South Africa?
3 years, 1 month ago

What do we know about the new COVID strain found in South Africa?

Al Jazeera  

The discovery of new variant with a high number of mutations raises concerns about COVID-19 transmissions, triggering travel restrictions. A new COVID-19 variant detected in South Africa with a high number of mutations has raised concerns among scientists and triggered travel restrictions by a number of countries amid fears of coronavirus transmissions. South Africa Health Minister Joe Phaahla said the …

WHO discusses new Covid variant possibly evolved in untreated AIDS patient. What we know so far
3 years, 1 month ago

WHO discusses new Covid variant possibly evolved in untreated AIDS patient. What we know so far

Hindustan Times  

World Health Organization officials on Thursday met to discuss a new coronavirus variant carrying an “unusual constellation of mutations”. The coronavirus variant B.1.1529 has been identified circulating in South Africa and Botswana, triggering fresh concerns of another Covid-19 wave in the region. South Africa was the first country to detect the Beta variant, which was later labelled as a ‘variant …

‘Serious concern’ as South Africa detects new coronavirus variant
3 years, 1 month ago

‘Serious concern’ as South Africa detects new coronavirus variant

Al Jazeera  

South African Health Minister Joe Phaahla says the variant is behind an ‘exponential’ increase in COVID infections. “Unfortunately we have detected a new variant which is a reason for concern in South Africa,” Tulio de Oliveira, from the Network for Genomic Surveillance in South Africa, told a news conference. Health Minister Joe Phaahla said the variant was of “serious concern” …

South African scientists detect new virus variant amid spike
3 years, 1 month ago

South African scientists detect new virus variant amid spike

LA Times  

A baby cries as her mother receives her Pfizer vaccine against COVID-19 in Diepsloot Township near Johannesburg, South Africa, on Oct. 21, 2021. A new coronavirus variant has been detected in South Africa that scientists say is a concern because of its high number of mutations and rapid spread among young people in Gauteng, the country’s most populous province, Health …

What is the C.1.2 coronavirus variant — and should we be worried?
3 years, 4 months ago

What is the C.1.2 coronavirus variant — and should we be worried?

LA Times  

Residents from the Alexandra township in Johannesburg gather in a stadium to be tested for COVID-19. Scientists have been conducting genomic surveillance on samples from routine coronavirus tests conducted in public and private labs in South Africa — and in C.1.2 they’ve found a collection of worrisome mutations that, in other variants of concern and variants of interest, are thought …

New Covid variant, C.1.2, may be more infectious, evade vaccine protection: Study
3 years, 4 months ago

New Covid variant, C.1.2, may be more infectious, evade vaccine protection: Study

India TV News  

A new variant of SARS-CoV-2, the virus which cause COVID-19, has been detected in South Africa and many other countries globally which could be more transmissible and evade protection provided by vaccines, according to study. Scientists from National Institute for Communicable Diseases and the KwaZulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform in South Africa said the potential variant of interest, C.1.2, …

South Africa detects new Covid variant C.1.2
3 years, 4 months ago

South Africa detects new Covid variant C.1.2

India TV News  

South Africa has identified a potential variant of interest of Covid-19 that is assigned to the PANGO lineage C.1.2. C.1.2 was first identified in May 2021 during the third wave of Covid in the country, said researchers from the country's National Institute for Communicable Diseases and the KwaZulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform. The variant has evolved from C.1, one …

Explainer: What is the Delta Plus coronavirus variant?
3 years, 6 months ago

Explainer: What is the Delta Plus coronavirus variant?

Al Jazeera  

Scientists worry the mutation, coupled with other existing features of the Delta variant, could make it more transmissible. India on Wednesday said it has found about 40 cases of the Delta coronavirus variant carrying a mutation that appears to make it more transmissible, and advised states to increase testing. The variant, called Delta Plus in India, was first reported in …

South Africa Detects First Cases of Coronavirus Variant from India
3 years, 8 months ago

South Africa Detects First Cases of Coronavirus Variant from India

News 18  

South Africa’s health ministry said on Saturday it had detected the first four cases of a new coronavirus variant that emerged in India and was responsible for a surge of infections and deaths in the Asian country. Testing had also picked up 11 cases of the variant B.1.1.7 first detected in the UK, the health ministry said in a statement. …

What we know about the Indian variant as Covid sweeps South Asia | Explained
3 years, 8 months ago

What we know about the Indian variant as Covid sweeps South Asia | Explained

India Today  

India has recorded the world’s sharpest spike in coronavirus infections this month, with political and financial capitals New Delhi and Mumbai running out of hospital beds, oxygen and medicines. The B.1.617 variant contains two key mutations to the outer "spike" portion of the virus that attaches to human cells, said senior Indian virologist Shahid Jameel. Carlo Federico Perno, Head of …

Virus mutations of COVID-19 pose a challenge as latest wave of coronavirus infection in India highlights need to ramp up genome sequencing efforts
3 years, 9 months ago

Virus mutations of COVID-19 pose a challenge as latest wave of coronavirus infection in India highlights need to ramp up genome sequencing efforts

The Hindu  

AFTER touching the lowest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases at around 9,100 on February 9, India is witnessing a continuous and worrisome increase. However, according to a recent work by a group of scientists from Seattle, Washington State, which was posted in the online preprint database bioRxiv, the site E484 in the receptor binding domain of the S protein appears …

New Double Mutant Variant Detected in Nagpur, But Can't Be Linked to Covid Spike: Govt
3 years, 9 months ago

New Double Mutant Variant Detected in Nagpur, But Can't Be Linked to Covid Spike: Govt

News 18  

As several nations, including India, struggle to contain a second wave of the coronavirus with several new strains emerging, the Union Health Ministry said on Wednesday that a double mutant variant of COVID-19 has been detected and found in samples from Nagpur in Maharashtra. But correlating the surge with this 20 per cent is not possible.” Government data showed the …

South African COVID-19 variant may provide better immunity against other mutations, finds small study
3 years, 10 months ago

South African COVID-19 variant may provide better immunity against other mutations, finds small study

Firstpost  

A new preliminary study — based on a small sample — has suggested that people previously infected by the Covid-19 variant identified in South Africa may have better immunity against other coronavirus mutations, experts said Wednesday. The findings, from a yet to be peer-reviewed research by the team of South African scientists who discovered the 501Y.V2 variant, raise hopes that …

New York’s new coronavirus variant is worrying researchers
3 years, 10 months ago

New York’s new coronavirus variant is worrying researchers

CNN  

CNN — Two separate teams of researchers saidthis week they have found a worrying new coronavirus variant in New York City and elsewhere in the Northeast that carries mutations that help it evade the body’s natural immune response – as well as the effects of monoclonal antibody treatments. It appears in people affected in diverse neighborhoods of New York City, …

‘Virus is Telling Us to Be Cautious’: Experts Explain COVID Spike
3 years, 10 months ago

‘Virus is Telling Us to Be Cautious’: Experts Explain COVID Spike

The Quint  

If it is the former, the rise could be due to a “relaxation in discipline, meaning more gatherings, not masking or maintaining hygiene,” but if it is the latter, “we must be careful and alert because this could mean a new variant has escaped from the immunity net and this may be the cause.” We would only know this in …

Batch of homegrown coronavirus mutations seen in US
3 years, 10 months ago

Batch of homegrown coronavirus mutations seen in US

CNN  

CNN — Researchers said Sunday they have identified a batch of similar troubling mutations in coronavirus samples circulating in the United States. “In late January of 2021, our two independent SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance programs, based at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences in Albuquerque, New Mexico and the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in Shreveport, Louisiana, each noticed …

UK, South African, Brazilian: a virologist explains each COVID variant and what they mean for the pandemic
3 years, 10 months ago

UK, South African, Brazilian: a virologist explains each COVID variant and what they mean for the pandemic

ABC  

Australia has recently seen SARS-CoV-2 escape several times from hotel quarantine, including in Brisbane, Perth and Melbourne. After examining the evidence surrounding the new variant, the UK New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group concluded it "had moderate confidence" the variant is substantially more infectious than other variants. This may be the result of one of the mutations in …

South African COVID variant in California: What to know
3 years, 10 months ago

South African COVID variant in California: What to know

LA Times  

A Santa Clara County resident receives a COVID-19 vaccination at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. The South Africa variant has been identified in two people, both in the Bay Area — one in Santa Clara County and another in Alameda County, Gov. Here’s a closer look at what you need to know about the South Africa variant: Currently available vaccines …

New variants raise worry about COVID-19 virus reinfections
3 years, 11 months ago

New variants raise worry about COVID-19 virus reinfections

Associated Press  

Evidence is mounting that having COVID-19 may not protect against getting infected again with some of the new variants. That work was done before the new variants began to spread, said one study leader, Dr. Stuart Sealfon of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York. “What this basically tells us, unfortunately, is that past infection with …

February 4 coronavirus news
3 years, 11 months ago

February 4 coronavirus news

CNN  

The United States has identified hundreds of cases of a more contagious strain first linked to the UK — but two others, linked to South Africa and Brazil, are much harder to find, according to Dr. James Lu, president of a company called Helix, whose Covid-19 tests have helped identify many of these cases. Part of the reason why we’ve …

UK starts door-to-door COVID testing in eight regions to stop South African strain from spreading
3 years, 11 months ago

UK starts door-to-door COVID testing in eight regions to stop South African strain from spreading

ABC  

England has begun COVID-19 testing every household in some communities as authorities try to snuff out a new variant of the coronavirus before it undermines the country's nationwide vaccination program. Key points: Health Secretary Matt Hancock says it is "critical" for residents of eight localities to stay at home Health Secretary Matt Hancock says it is "critical" for residents of …

Coronavirus: Mutations found in South African variant are appearing in cases caused by Kent strain
3 years, 11 months ago

Coronavirus: Mutations found in South African variant are appearing in cases caused by Kent strain

Daily Mail  

The Kent Covid variant has started to mutate further to become more like the one that evolved in South Africa in what scientists have dubbed a 'worrying development' that could make vaccines less effective. A Public Health England report yesterday revealed that the E484K coronavirus mutation, a key difference found in the South African variant, had been found in 11 …

Testing to find 'every single case' of South African variant among 80,000 Britons starts TODAY
3 years, 11 months ago

Testing to find 'every single case' of South African variant among 80,000 Britons starts TODAY

Daily Mail  

WHERE IS DOOR-TO-DOOR TESTING BEING OFFERED? The 75-year-old said he was more than happy to take part in the testing - but was worried that he lives in an area where the mutant South African strain has been found Despite the seriousness of the situation one resident at a sheltered housing accommodation block in Woking attempted to lighten the mood …

Virus variant from South Africa detected in US for 1st time
3 years, 11 months ago

Virus variant from South Africa detected in US for 1st time

Associated Press  

COLUMBIA, S.C. — A new variant of the coronavirus emerged Thursday in the United States, posing yet another public health challenge in a country already losing more than 3,000 people to COVID-19 every day. “That’s frightening,” because it means there could be more undetected cases within the state, said Dr. Krutika Kuppalli, an infectious diseases physician at the Medical University …

South Carolina Reports 1st Known U.S. Cases Of Variant From South Africa
3 years, 11 months ago

South Carolina Reports 1st Known U.S. Cases Of Variant From South Africa

NPR  

South Carolina Reports 1st Known U.S. Cases Of Variant From South Africa Enlarge this image toggle caption Micah Green/Bloomberg via Getty Images Micah Green/Bloomberg via Getty Images Updated at 2:35 p.m. ET Health officials have identified the first U.S. cases of the coronavirus variant that was initially detected in South Africa. Like the U.K. and Brazilian variants, preliminary data suggests …

South Africa variant of virus detected in the United States
3 years, 11 months ago

South Africa variant of virus detected in the United States

Al Jazeera  

Health officials in US state of South Carolina announce first known case of COVID-19 variant. Health officials in the US state of South Carolina announced on Thursday that the new South Africa variant of the coronavirus has been detected in two people in the United States. These are the first known cases of the more infectious South Africa variant in …

South African Covid mutation poses 're-infection risk' which could overpower vaccines, study finds
3 years, 11 months ago

South African Covid mutation poses 're-infection risk' which could overpower vaccines, study finds

Daily Mail  

The South African coronavirus mutation poses a 'significant re-infection risk' and could overpower vaccines, new research has found. Members of the public receive a dose of a Covid-19 vaccine on Wednesday at Salisbury cathedral which has been converted into a temporary vaccination centre Healthcare workers attend to a patient at the Covid-19 Intensive Care Unit of the Hospital Del Mar …

How Scientists Trace New Coronavirus Variants
3 years, 11 months ago

How Scientists Trace New Coronavirus Variants

NPR  

How Scientists Trace New Coronavirus Variants NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with biologists Pardis Sabeti and Sharon Peacock about how genomic sequencing was used in the U.K. to trace a new coronavirus variant and what the U.S. can learn from it. Pardis Sabeti is a computational biologist at the Broad Institute in Massachusetts, and Sharon Peacock is the director of the …

Fear over new coronavirus mutations, is this the the calm before the storm?"
4 years ago

Fear over new coronavirus mutations, is this the the calm before the storm?"

NL Times  

The South African variant of the coronavirus has also been identified in the Netherlands, confirmed the public health institute RIVM on Thursday. We don’t know yet.” Fear over South African variant Much is still unclear about the British variant. We have no evidence that the mutations also show a more serious disease trajectory.” According to Timen, we need to prepare …

Vaccines may not work on South African coronavirus variant, say UK scientists
4 years ago

Vaccines may not work on South African coronavirus variant, say UK scientists

India Today  

The scientists in the United Kingdom are worried that the vaccines will work not on a new variant of the coronavirus which has been lately found in South Africa. While UK authorities have said that the Covid-19 vaccine would be effective in the prevention of the new coronavirus variant in the country, British Health Secretary Matt Hancock said on Monday …

'UK Scientists Worried Vaccines May Not Work on South African Coronavirus Variant'
4 years ago

'UK Scientists Worried Vaccines May Not Work on South African Coronavirus Variant'

News 18  

Scientists are not fully confident that COVID-19 vaccines will work on a new variant of the coronavirus found in South Africa, ITV’s political editor said on Monday, citing an unidentified scientific adviser to the British government. “According to one of the government’s scientific advisers, the reason for Matt Hancock’s ‘incredible worry’ about the South African COVID-19 variant is that they …

The New Coronavirus Variant In South Africa: Are Concerns Justified?
4 years ago

The New Coronavirus Variant In South Africa: Are Concerns Justified?

News 18  

South Africa has identified a new variant of the novel coronavirus, which authorities believe is driving a surge in COVID-19 infections that could overwhelm its healthcare system. Scientists say the variant is different from others circulating in South Africa because it has multiple mutations in the important “spike” protein that the virus uses to infect human cells. “What has happened …

Explainer | The new coronavirus variant in South Africa: Are concerns justified?
4 years ago

Explainer | The new coronavirus variant in South Africa: Are concerns justified?

India Today  

South Africa has identified a new variant of the novel coronavirus, which authorities believe is driving a surge in COVID-19 infections that could overwhelm its healthcare system. Scientists say the variant is different from others circulating in South Africa because it has multiple mutations in the important "spike" protein that the virus uses to infect human cells. "What has happened …

Coronavirus | New variant found in Nigeria, says Africa’s disease control body
4 years ago

Coronavirus | New variant found in Nigeria, says Africa’s disease control body

The Hindu  

Another new variant of the novel coronavirus seems to have emerged in Nigeria, the head of Africa’s disease control body said on Thursday, cautioning more investigation was needed. The news comes after Britain and South Africa both reported new variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that appear to be more contagious. “It’s a separate lineage from the U.K. and the South …

New Covid variant has emerged in Nigeria, says Africa CDC
4 years ago

New Covid variant has emerged in Nigeria, says Africa CDC

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Another new variant of the …

New, more infectious variant of coronavirus strain from South Africa found in UK
4 years ago

New, more infectious variant of coronavirus strain from South Africa found in UK

Live Mint  

LONDON: A new, potentially more infectious variant of the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 has been found in Britain in cases linked to South Africa, British Health Secretary Matt Hancock said on Wednesday. South Africa's health department said last week that a new genetic mutation of the virus had been discovered and might be responsible for a recent surge in …

Mutated COVID-19 variant from South Africa found in United Kingdom, Health Minister says
4 years ago

Mutated COVID-19 variant from South Africa found in United Kingdom, Health Minister says

ABC  

Britain will halt flights and arrivals from South Africa after a potentially more infectious variant of the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 spread to the United Kingdom. Key points: This is the second mutant strain detected in the UK in recent weeks The UK imposed immediate restrictions on travel from South Africa Countries around the world have closed their borders …

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