EXPLAINER: What is this new COVID variant in South Africa?

[bronxiteforever]

By MARIA CHENG
7:30 am Nov 26, 2021

LONDON (AP) — WHAT IS THIS NEW COVID-19 VARIANT IN SOUTH AFRICA?

South African scientists have identified a new version of the coronavirus this week that they say is behind a recent spike in COVID-19 infections in Gauteng, the country’s most populous province. It’s unclear where the new variant actually arose, but it was first detected by scientists in South Africa and has also been seen in travelers to Hong Kong and Botswana… From just over 200 new confirmed cases per day in recent weeks, South Africa saw the number of new daily cases rocket to 2,465 on Thursday. Struggling to explain the sudden rise in cases, scientists studied virus samples from the outbreak and discovered the new variant.

WHY ARE SCIENTISTS WORRIED ABOUT THIS NEW VARIANT?

It appears to have a high number of mutations — about 30 — in the coronavirus’ spike protein, which could affect how easily it spreads to people. Sharon Peacock, who has led genetic sequencing of COVID-19 in Britain at the University of Cambridge, said the data so far suggest the new variant has mutations “consistent with enhanced transmissibility,” but said that “the significance of many of the mutations is still not known.”

WHAT’S KNOWN AND NOT KNOWN ABOUT THE VARIANT?

We know that the new variant is genetically distinct from previous variants including the beta and delta variants, but we do not know if these genetic changes make it any more transmissible or dangerous. South African scientists have noticed a surge of cases, but we don’t know if the new variant is responsible and it will take weeks to sort out if vaccines are still effective against it.

More here
https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-lifestyle-health-travel-europe-116ef818ac4a8e7bc23bb28d6511ecad

[PatSeg]

1. Woke up this morning

and there were five headlines about the South African variant on the homepage. It is like waking up in a disaster movie.

[Harker]

4. And we can't all get up and walk out of the theatre. n/t

[PatSeg]

11. Yes, it is all so surreal

I'm expecting hordes of locust any day now.

[BComplex]

2. COVID .... it keeps changing. This is not good!

[Escurumbele]

3. What is going on? These COVID virus seems to be intelligent?

When it seems we are getting close to controlling it, despite the unvaccinated, a new variant appears.

[Marthe48]

5. It is what viruses do

They mutate so they can spread. A really successful virus will adapt to avoid killing the host until it can spread.

[Orrex]

6. One obvious solution is universal lockdowns, but that won't happen

Ignorant antivax fuckheads already lose their shit when anyone suggests that they shouldn't crowed together indoors to breathe into each other's drooling mouths, so anything like a reasonable response will be met with scorn and protest.

With the full backing of the GOP asshole machine, of course.

[Marthe48]

7. The unvaccinated unmasked can be proud of their result

Early on, the scientists predicted a loss of 2 million American lives before it is over. I can't remember the esitmate of planet-wide loss. I was so hoping they'd be wrong, but almost 800,000 Americans have died.


As a comparison, AIDS has killed over 30 million people since it was identified. I guess it is what we have to look forward to.

[OneCrazyDiamond]

8. Boosters for rich nations

doesn't solve poorer nations breeding new variants.

[Nasruddin]

9. Couple steps

If you're vaccinated, don't panic. Why? Variants up to now have been controlled well by the vaccines we have.

Immediate travel block - 30 days? - for everybody whose travel originates / passes thru South Africa, Hong Kong, Israel. Add any other places where variant is found. Why? Slow down the spread to the USA enough so that it can be studied adequately and any change in countermeasures programmed in. Spread is inevitable (good chance already in USA). (Block is not for individuals but for all air traffic.)

Permanent - every traveler entering the US by air or ship is tested AND SEQUENCED for coronavirus (& perhaps for influenza). Consider it also for travelers leaving the US.

Ramp up sequencing thruout the US.

Why? We are an immensely rich country with a massive amount of travel & we have very poor telemetry on what is coming and going. We can easily map an outbreak in a remote part of the world directly to US (& vice versa).

Just some suggestions.

[scipan]

12. PCR test can pretty much identify it

due to one of the mutations, so that’s one good thing.

[paleotn]

10. A virus doing what a virus does if left unchecked....

Evolution in action. Given our stupidity as a species, it was inevitable. And unless we wise up, it will continue.