WHO hosts particular assembly on worrying new COVID-19 variant

Advisers to the realm fitness company are holding a different session to flesh out counsel about a caring new variant of the coronavirus that has been detected in South Africa, even though its have an effect on on COVID-19 vaccines may now not be wide-spread for weeks

through JAMEY KEATEN linked Press

November 26, 2021, 11:22 AM

• 2 min read

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GENEVA -- Advisers to the realm fitness organization are protecting a distinct session Friday to flesh out information a few being concerned new variant of the coronavirus that has been detected in South Africa, even though a excellent professional says its affect on COVID-19 vaccines may additionally no longer be time-honored for weeks.

The technical advisory group on the evolution of COVID-19 turned into meeting basically to focus on the so-known as B.1.1.529 variant that has brought about stock markets to swoon and led the ecu Union to suggest a pause in flights to southern Africa.

The community could come to a decision if it's a "variant of problem" — essentially the most worrying type, just like the widespread delta variant — or a "variant of hobby," and whether to make use of a Greek letter to classify it.

"We have no idea very tons about this, yet. What we do comprehend is that this variant has a big number of mutations, and the challenge is that you probably have so many mutations it might probably have an have an effect on on how the virus behaves," said Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO's technical lead on COVID-19, in a social-media chat Thursday.

Fewer than one hundred full genome sequences of the variant are to date accessible, she referred to.

"it's going to take a couple of weeks for us to be mindful what have an effect on this variant has on any abilities vaccines, as an instance," Van Kerkhove said.

Reached with the aid of cellphone, advisory neighborhood chairman Dr. Anurag Agrawal, the director of Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology in New Delhi, referred to it became too soon to comment on the variant. He said that greater data was mandatory earlier than he might add to the counsel that was already attainable.

"this is one to watch. i would say we have situation, but I consider you may want us to have difficulty," Van Kerkhove spoke of. "we have americans who are on this."

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Aniruddha Ghosal contributed to this report from New Delhi.