A new variant of the coronavirus has been detected in South Africa, health minister Zweli Mkhize announced on Friday. The variant was identified by South African genomics scientists from across the country, led by the Kwazulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform (KRISP). They have been analysing coronavirus genetic samples from different parts of South Africa since the start of the pandemic, and in recent weeks these samples were dominated by a new variant.
Mkhize said the new variant is believed to be driving South Africa’s second coronavirus wave.
South African authorities believe the new variant spread from Nelson Mandela Bay through the Eastern Cape, to the Garden Route, and into KwaZulu-Natal.
The new lineage, named 501.V2, has between 10 and 20 new mutations not seen in the coronavirus tested in South Africa before end-September.
The South African variant appears to be spreading more quickly, with higher viral loads than the original virus. Authorities say there is no telling yet whether the new strain causes more severe symptoms than previous variants.
Dr Richard Lessells, senior researcher at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, says it is highly unlikely that patients will have different symptoms.
But researchers are now urgently trying to confirm whether there are any changes in how fast and aggressive Covid progresses in patients with the new variant.
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