A heavily-mutated Covid variant emerges in southern Africa: Here's what we know so far

[Klaralven]

The variant known as B.1.1.529 has been detected in small numbers in South Africa, WHO officials said.

South African scientist Tulio de Oliveira said in a media briefing that the variant contains more than 30 mutations to the spike protein, the component of the virus that binds to cells.

The U.K. immediately moved to ban flights from South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Namibia, Eswatini and Zimbabwe.

Francois Balloux, an epidemiologist and director of University College London’s Genetics Institute, told the BBC on Friday that the early discovery of the variant could render it easier to contain.

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/11/26/covid-variant-emerges-in-south-africa-heres-what-we-know-so-far.html

International travel should be banned completely. Ships crews and air freighter crews engaged in international transport should be quarantined. Truck and rail crews should be changed at the border.

[janterry]

1. waiting to hear about Paxlovid with this strain

also, interested that covid keeps getting more dangerous. My understanding is that is not what usually happens with a naturally occurring virus (can happen, but is certainly not typical).

[stopdiggin]

12. I think the general understanding points

toward 'more infectious, less lethal' over time. Right now they are only speculating about a increased transmissiblity - but my understanding says this would fit right in with that pattern.

[Haggard Celine]

2. Didn't Delta come from South Africa?

What makes that place a breeding ground for corona viruses?

[janterry]

3. if you scroll down

they list four different variants and where they were first observed

https://www.india.com/news/india/things-to-know-about-new-covid-variant-with-32-heavy-mutations-worse-than-delta-list-of-covid-starin-with-multiple-mutation-details-5111313/

[Haggard Celine]

6. Thanks, great article!

That's a good source; I'll be checking out their news more often.

[littlemissmartypants]

5. Delta variant (B.1.617.2) was first identified in India.

https://www.india.com/news/india/things-to-know-about-new-covid-variant-with-32-heavy-mutations-worse-than-delta-list-of-covid-starin-with-multiple-mutation-details-5111313/

[Haggard Celine]

9. Thanks!

Glad to have a source that tells where they all originated. I'll be checking back with them more often.

[madville]

7. Being vaccinated may not matter so much about with this one

As far as transmission goes. The two people in Hong Kong that got infected with this strain both had the Pfizer vaccine and extremely high viral loads. Way too early to tell though, probably be a few weeks before there is decent data about current vaccine effectiveness.

[The Magistrate]

8. Cute As A Bug In A Rug, Sweetheart

[NickB79]

10. 3 posts so far, huh?

[Hav]

11. A thread about Covid

would be nothing without our dear anti-vaxxer who always pops up.
And people are so gleeful that 2 vaccine shots may not offer enough security after 6 months. I'm not mad about it. I don't mind getting a booster. But I'm also not an ahole who doesn't give a fuck spreading the disease to others, particularly family members.
The need for boosters isn't a win for you anti-vaxxers.