Is the South African mineral found in Botswana resistant to coronavirus vaccines?
What do scientists know about the new variant of Covid?
Scientists are trying to answer these key questions with the data they have collected so far and are concerned that the new variant has twice as many mutations as the Delta mutation.
The British Guardian published a series of questions and answers about the Botswana mutation, how it has spread to South African countries, and explains the reasons for global concern.
When was the variant first identified?
The variant was identified on Tuesday and was noted as worrying due to the large number of its mutations, which could lead to “bypass” of immunity.
The increase in cases of this variant was initially detected in the South African province of Gauteng, an urban area that includes Pretoria and Johannesburg, in the last two weeks.
These two factors quickly put the variant on the radar of the international scientific community, with the chief medical adviser of the British Health and Safety Service on Friday describing the variant as “the most worrying we have seen”.
Where did it come from?
Although originally associated with the province of Gauteng, the variant did not necessarily come from there. The oldest specimen of the variant was collected in Botswana on November 11.
Scientists say the unusual number of mutations suggests it may have occurred after a chronic infection of an immunocompromised person, such as an untreated HIV / AIDS patient.
Why are scientists worried about variation?
The variant has more than 30 mutations in the protein spike – the “key” that the virus uses to unlock our body cells – a number that is more than double that of the Delta variant, which now dominates the entire the world.
Such a dramatic change has raised concerns that antibodies from previous infections or vaccinations may no longer fit well into the treatment of the infection.
Based on the knowledge of the list of mutations, scientists expect that the virus will be more likely to infect or re-infect people who are immune to previous variants.
Is the Botswana variant more contagious?
Experts can not say for sure whether this variant can be more contagious, although the picture is worrying.
In South Africa, the number of cases rose sharply from 273 on November 16 to more than 1,200 earlier this week.
More than 80% of new cases are found in Gauteng County, where a first analysis of the results shows that the variant has quickly become the dominant strain.
The R index, which shows how fast an epidemic is growing, is estimated at 1.47 for South Africa, but rises to 1.93 specifically in Gauteng.
The Guardian, however, notes that these figures may be due to statistical error, but the data have caused considerable concern and led to precautionary measures.
Will existing vaccines be effective?
What worries scientists is the large number of mutations, which leads to the conclusion that the new variant may be able to bypass the existing immune protection.
For now, any predictions are based on theoretical estimates, and scientists are rushing to conduct clinical trials to determine how effective the antibodies are against the new variant. Data from the community on re-infection rates will also give a clearer indication of the extent of any change in immunity.
However, scientists speculate that the variant will be recognized by existing antibodies, but that existing vaccines may provide less protection. This is why the need to increase the rate of vaccination and administration of the third dose to the elderly and high-risk groups becomes even more urgent.
Can variation cause more serious illness?
There is no information yet on whether the Botswana variant leads to more severe symptoms, something that scientists in South Africa are closely monitoring.
As there is a time lag between infections and serious illness, it will take several weeks before there is clear evidence of this.
Can vaccines be modified to treat it?
The Guardian reports that there are groups working on just that, updating the vaccines so they can deal with the mutated protein spike.
This was also the case with the Beta and Delta variants, although it was eventually proven that the existing vaccines responded effectively.
The research teams were already ready to develop new vaccine formulas and are in contact with regulators what additional tests would be required. However, it may take up to six months before updated vaccines become widely available.
How likely is it to spread around the world?
The majority of new cases of the Botswana variant are recorded in South Africa, less in Botswana and Hong Kong. Another case was detected yesterday in Israel, while the first confirmed case in Belgium was announced on Friday afternoon.
However, as the variant appears to be highly prevalent in the South African community, it is not unlikely that it has spread, without yet being detectable, to other countries.
Past experience has shown that travel bans slow down the spread somewhat, but these measures are unlikely to stop the spread of a new variant altogether.
Guardian
Follow Skai.gr on Google News
and be the first to know all the news
.
