a new threatening variant discovered in South Africa

It is a new variant which worries the planet. After the Delta, here is the B.1.1.529 variant, detected in South Africa, where the epidemic is starting again. A variant that would be more contagious than the others, already with several mutations. “At first it just looked like new clusters, but since yesterday our scientific colleagues say they are observing what looks like a new variant”, says Joseph Phaala, South African Minister of Health.

In about twenty days, this new variant would represent more than 80% of cases, much more than for the other variants. It could therefore quickly become dominant and replace the Delta variant, which is the majority today. At the moment, scientists do not know if the vaccines are effective against this new strain. WHO is to meet today to study it. In prevention, the United Kingdom has already suspended flights from six African countries.