A new variant of the COVVI-19 worries the WHO. The organization holds a special meeting, this Friday about this variant to discuss the impact with regard to the effectiveness of current vaccines and treatment against the coronavirus.
Called B.1.1.529, it was detected in South Africa and Botswana in small numbers, according to WHO, but cases have already been identified in Hong Kong according to information from Bloomberg published during the night from Thursday to Friday.
“We don’t know much about this yet. What we know is that this variant has a large number of mutations. And what is worrying is that when you have so many mutations, it can have an impact on how the virus behaves, “said Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO technical manager for the COVVI-19.
South African scientists have detected more than 30 changes, according to a press briefing organized by the South African Ministry of Health on Thursday, and would combine mutations that make the virus more resistant to vaccines but also more contagious.
