Britain says new COVID-19 variant is the most significant yet found

[TexasTowelie]

LONDON, Nov 26 (Reuters) - Britain said on Friday that a newly identified coronavirus variant spreading in South Africa was of huge concern and was considered by scientists to be the most significant one yet found as it could make vaccines less effective.

The UK Health Security Agency said that the variant - called B.1.1.529 - has a spike protein that was 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, and Britain has banned flights from South Africa and five neighbouring countries.

"There are no detected cases of this variant in the UK at this time. But this new variant is of huge international concern," Javid told lawmakers.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/britain-says-new-covid-19-variant-is-most-significant-yet-found-2021-11-26/

[janterry]

1. I hope those antivirals are effective for this strain

n/t

[Emrys]

2. South Africa has been added to the countries on the UK's "red list" restricting travel,

along with Namibia, Lesotho, Botswana, Eswatini and Zimbabwe.

Over the last year, the UK government has had a terrible record in delaying such measures and being very sloppy about entry safeguards at airports etc. It's probably being optimistic to think it's learned any serious lessons, and let's hope they haven't shut the barn door too late again (South Africa was previously removed from the red list on 11 October).

More about the new variant here: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/25/what-do-we-know-about-the-new-worst-ever-covid-variant

The numbers detected so far are very low, and for once the World Health Organisation seems to be less reactive than the UK government:

GENEVA, Nov 26 (Reuters) - The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Friday cautioned countries against hastily imposing travel restrictions linked to the new B.1.1.529 variant of COVID-19, saying they should take a "risk-based and scientific approach".
...
It would take several weeks to determine the variant's transmissibility and the effectiveness of vaccines and therapeutics against it, he said, noting that 100 sequences of the variant have been reported so far.

People should continue to wear masks whenever possible, avoid large gatherings, ventilate rooms and maintain hand hygiene, Lindmeier added.

"We don't know very much about this yet. What we do know is that this variant has a large number of mutations. And the concern is when you have so many mutations it can have an impact on how the virus behaves," said Maria van Kerkhove, an epidemiologist and WHO technical lead on COVID-19.
...
Van Kerkhove said that it was good that variants were being detected, adding: "It means that we have a system in place."

https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/who-meeting-friday-designate-new-variant-b11529-2021-11-26/

[LeftishBrit]

3. All scary

Hope we can keep it out.

I know that new vaccines are being developed that may be less vulnerable to spike protein mutations; but it will be a few months before they're available.