New super mutant Covid variant found, could make vaccines partially ineffective: travel curbs imposed

LONDON: A newly identified coronavirus super mutant variant rapidly spreading in South Africa is of extremely great concern and is considered by scientists to be the most significant one yet found, as it could make vaccines less effective and in case of persons with severe omorbidities, totally ineffective.

The UK Health Security Agency said that the variant – called B.1.1.529 – has a spike protein that is dramatically different to the one in the original coronavirus that COVID-19 vaccines are based on. The variant has also been found in Botswana and Hong Kong, even in fully vaccinated persons and Britain and several nations have banned flights from South Africa and five neighbouring countries.

The new African variant featured multiple mutations in its spike protein, incorporating earlier mutations found in other variants like the Beta variant, in a manner not seen before.

“There are no detected cases of this variant in the UK or India at this time, but hidden, undetected cases could be possible. This new variant is of huge international concern due to its dramatic mutations,” experts said. The first sequence of the variant was uploaded by Hong Kong from the case of a traveller from South Africa, experts explained.

“The UK was the first country to identify the potential threat of this new variant and to alert international partners. Further cases have been identified in South Africa and in Botswana, and it is highly likely that it has now spread to other countries.” The UK paid tribute to South African scientists for their openness and transparency, but South Africa has said that Britain’s decision to halt flights from the country seemed rushed.

Experts emphasised that there is much that is not yet known about the variant, but early indications suggested it might render vaccines less effective and be much more transmissible, and they are concerned about a huge surge in cases in South Africa.

“While we don’t know yet whether the exponential growth of Covid cases in South Africa is directly associated with this new variant, one of the lessons of this pandemic has been the we must move quickly and at the earliest possible moment,” the UK Health secretary Javid said.

Earlier, British Transport Secretary Grant Shapps defended a ban on flights from South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Lesotho and Eswatini. “As scientists have described, (this is) the most significant variant they’ve encountered to date in their research,” Shapps told Sky News.