South Africa’s COVID-19 variant is highly contagious, spreading rapidly and raising alarm globally
[British Health Minister Matt Hancock, saying:] “This new variant is highly worrying because it is even more transmissible and appears to have undergone more mutation than the new variant that was discovered in the UK.”
[U.S. infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci, saying:] “The Republic of South Africa’s is a little more complicated …”
[WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesys, saying:] “This is a very dangerous time in the course of the pandemic.”
Where did it come from, how dangerous is it and will vaccines work against it?
The mutation – known as 501.V2 – was discovered by a network of scientists across South Africa, first at Nelson Mandela Bay on the east coast – then spreading rapidly to the south and southeast of the country.
Up to 90% of new cases carry the mutant variant, according to health officials – leading to an outbreak of infections that threatens to overwhelm South Africa’s health system.
[Frontline nurse Rich Sicina, saying:] “Our wards are full, it is a very painful situation because a victim … for you to get a bed, someone must die.”
Although hundreds of variations of COVID-19 have been identified worldwide, it appears to spread more rapidly.
It is similar to the UK variant in that it shares a common mutation in the ‘spike’ protein, which the virus uses to infect cells.
However, they are different variants.
The WHO says they originated separately and it appears to have several additional mutations.
[U.S. infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci, saying:] “The Republic of South Africa’s is a little more complicated because it overlaps the mutation in the UK a little bit, but it’s a little more complicated because some of these mutations can have a negative impact on the effectiveness of some of the monoclonal antibodies that are used , so we are examining this very carefully. “
The vaccine from Pfizer and BioNTech appears to work against both variants, according to the first laboratory tests.
But the findings are limited and officials say it is too early to say at this stage whether vaccines will be effective.
Scientists guarantee that vaccines can be modified, if necessary, in just six weeks.
Video transcription
– South Africa’s COVID-19 variant is highly contagious, spreading rapidly and raising alarm globally.
MATT HANCOCK: This new variant is highly worrying because it is even more transmissible and appears to have undergone more mutation than the new variant that was discovered in the UK.
ANTHONY FAUCI: The Republic of South Africa is a little more complicated.
ADHANOM GHEBREYESYS TEDROS: This is a very dangerous time in the course of the pandemic.
– I’m not happy with – with the speed that you –
– Where did it come from? How dangerous is that? And will vaccines work against that? The mutation, known as 501.V2, was discovered by a network of scientists across South Africa, first in Nelson Mandela Bay on the east coast, then spreading rapidly to the south and southeast of the country. Up to 90% of new cases carry the mutant variant, according to health officials, leading to an outbreak of infections that threatens to overwhelm South Africa’s health system.
[BEEPING]
– Our wards are full. It is a very unfortunate situation, because an injured person. For you to get a bed, someone must die.
– Although hundreds of variations of COVID-19 have been identified worldwide, it appears to spread more rapidly. It is similar to the UK variant in that it shares a common mutation in the increased protein that the virus uses to infect cells. However, they are different variants. The World Health Organization says they originated separately and this one in South Africa appears to have several additional mutations.
ANTHONY FAUCI: That of the Republic of South Africa is a little more complicated because it overlaps the mutation in the UK a little, but it is a little more complicated because some of these mutations can have a negative impact on the effectiveness of some of the monoclonal antibodies that are used. Therefore, we are examining this very carefully.
– The vaccine from Pfizer and BioNTech appears to work against both variants, according to the first laboratory tests. But the findings are limited and officials say it is too early to say at this stage whether vaccines will be effective. Scientists are confident that vaccines can be modified, if necessary, in just six weeks.