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BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Two were martyred in an initial toll of the Israeli drone strike that targeted the al-Asira neighborhood in the city of Baalbek, eastern Lebanon
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: An Israeli drone strike targeted the al-Asira neighborhood east of Baalbek, eastern Lebanon
Sheikh Naim Qassem to the pager attack survivors: You are the greatest resistance. Know that 'Israel' will fall because it embodies aggression, crime, and occupation; victory is truly yours
Sheikh Qassem to the pager attack survivors: The value of what you are doing despite your wounds is immense, and here you are, treading the path of the Master of Nation's Martyrs and the leaders
Sheikh Qassem to the pager attack survivors: You are moving forward with insight deeper than sight itself. The enemy sought to eliminate your role in the battle, yet you remain steadfast and continue the fight
Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem to the pager attack survivors one year later: You are healing from your wounds and rising above them. You have successfully passed the test
Palestinian media: Reports of stabbing operation in occupied al-Quds.
Israeli media: Sirens blare in Arava in South, near Ramon Airport.
Egyptian PM Mostafa Madbouli: Egypt is targeted in plans to redraw regional map
AEOI Chief Mohammad Eslami: Our presence in IAEA General Council and fact-checking helped in preventing unilateral rhetoric that aims to portray Iran as an unregulated country

Scientists Warn of New COVID Variant

  • By Al Mayadeen Net
  • Source: Agencies
  • 24 Nov 2021 23:35
  • 1 Shares
2 Min Read

The B.1.1.529 variant was discovered for the first time in Botswana, and six cases have since been discovered in South Africa.

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  • Scientists Warn of New Covid Variant
    The new variation was first discovered in Botswana. 

Scientists have cautioned that a new COVID type with an "extremely high number" of mutations could cause further illness outbreaks by avoiding the body's immune system.

Although the number of cases validated by genomic sequencing is limited, with only 10 cases reported in three countries, the variant has alarmed some researchers since some of the changes may aid the virus in evading immunity.

The spike protein, which is used by most vaccines to boost the immune system against Covid, contains 32 mutations in the B.1.1.529 variation.

In addition to affecting the virus's capacity to infect cells and disseminate, mutations in the spike protein make it more difficult for immune cells to combat the infection.

Three examples have already been sequenced in Botswana, where the variation was first discovered. 

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Six more have been confirmed in South Africa, with one confirmed in Hong Kong in a visitor returning from the country.

Critical variant should "very, very much be monitored"

Dr. Tom Peacock, a virologist at Imperial College London, shared information on the novel variant on a genome-sharing website, adding that the new variant was discovered by chance, “incredibly high amount of spike mutations suggest this could be of real concern.”

In a series of tweets, Peacock said it “very, very much should be monitored due to that horrific spike profile,” but added that it may turn out to be an “odd cluster” that is not very transmissible. “I hope that’s the case,” he wrote.

Dr. Meera Chand, the UK Health Security Agency's COVID-19 incident director, said the agency was continually monitoring the status of Sars-CoV-2 variants as they emerged and developed in collaboration with scientific authorities around the world.

“As it is in the nature of viruses to mutate often and at random, it is not unusual for small numbers of cases to arise featuring new sets of mutations. Any variants showing evidence of spread are rapidly assessed,” she said.

The first cases of the variant were collected in Botswana on 11 November, and the earliest in South Africa was recorded three days later. 

  • B.1.1.529 variant
  • COVID-19
  • South Africa
  • Botswana
  • Coronavirus

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