Covid-19: “Naked”, the new variant detected in South Africa

After the Delta variant, which is particularly contagious, the nude variant. From its scientific name B.1.1.529, it has just been identified in South Africa, scientists said at an online press conference on November 25. And according to professor Tulio de Oliveira, virologist, it constitutes “a source of concern”Because of its potential high transmissibility and the fact that it may not respond to vaccines.

Nu variant: more transmissible and not responding to vaccines?

To date, cases have been reported in South Africa – around 20, in particular among young people -, in Botswana (4 cases) as well as in Hong Kong, a person having been infected during a trip to Africa. South. Tulio de Oliveira explained that the Nu variant exhibited a number “extremely high” of mutations and that he had “a potential for very rapid spread “.

“What concerns us is that this variant could have a increased transmission capacity, but also to be able to bypass parts of our immune system“, added another researcher, Prof. Richard Lessells. Clearly, the current vaccines could be ineffective against the B.1.1.529 variant, or their effectiveness greatly reduced. For comparison, the Delta variant reduced the effectiveness of vaccines against the transmission of Covid-19 to 40%, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Variant Nude: followed “closely” by the WHO

WHO, which said “to follow closely“the Nu variant, should moreover meet today for”determine its dangerousness“, reports AFP. Doctor John Nkengasong, virologist and director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the African Union, nevertheless wished to temper: “There are many variants but some do not affect the progression of the epidemic.”

For its part, the Tulio de Oliveira team, which had already discovered the Beta variant in 2020, “works tirelessly to understand the effects of [variant Nu] on 1) transmissibility, 2) vaccines, 3) reinfection, disease severity and diagnosis, he wrote on his Twitter account. […] South Africa and Africa will need help (financial, health, scientific) to control it so that it does not spread around the world.”