Variant most mutated version of Coronavirus
Even as many countries in Europe and elsewhere reel under the multiple surges of the Covid-19 waves, British experts have sounded alarm over a new deadly Covid variant believed to have emerged in “Botswana” in South Africa. The variant is the most mutated version of the virus till now, according to a news report.
South Africa last year detected the Beta variant of the virus although until now infection numbers have been driven by the Delta variant, which was originally detected in India.
The new variant found in Botswana carries 32 mutations, many of which are highly transmissible and vaccine-resistant, and has more alterations to its spike protein than any other variant, the report said.
Only 10 cases of the strain, which could eventually be named “Nu”, have been detected so far. But it has already been spotted in three countries, suggesting the variant is more widespread. There are no cases in India, but a senior official from the Union Health Ministry said that they are keeping a watch on the new development.
News agency IANS quoted Professor Francois Balloux, a geneticist at University College London, saying that new variant might have emerged in a lingering infection in an immunocompromised patient, possibly someone with undiagnosed AIDS, the report added.
Changes to the spike make it difficult for current jabs to fight off, because they train the immune system to recognise an older version of the virus.
Dr Tom Peacock, a virologist at Imperial College who first picked up on its spread, described the variant’s combination of mutations as “horrific”, the report added.
He warned that B.1.1.529, its scientific name, had the potential to be “worse than nearly anything else about”, including the world-dominant Delta strain.
Scientists told MailOnline, however, that its unprecedented number of mutations might work against it and make it “unstable”, preventing it from becoming widespread.
They said there was ‘no need to be overly concerned because there were no signs yet that it was spreading rapidly.
Three infections have been detected in Botswana to date and six in South Africa — where variant surveillance is more robust.
One case has also been spotted in a 36-year-old man in Hong Kong who recently returned from the continent, the report added.
In Britain there have been no cases so far, but the UK Health Security Agency, which took over from the Public Health England, said it was monitoring the situation closely