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New COVID variant detected in South Africa, most mutated variant so far
Jerusalem Post ^ | 08/29/2021 | TZVI JOFFRE

Posted on 08/29/2021 7:12:24 PM PDT by SeekAndFind

A new coronavirus variant, C.1.2, has been detected in South Africa and a number of other countries, with concerns that it could be more infectious and evade vaccines, according to a new preprint study by South Africa's National Institute for Communicable Diseases and the KwaZulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform. The study is awaiting peer review.

Scientists first detected C.1.2 in May 2021, finding that it was descended from C.1, which scientists found surprising as C.1 had last been detected in January. The new variant has "mutated substantially" compared to C.1 and is more mutations away from the original virus detected in Wuhan than any other Variant of Concern (VOC) or Variant of Interest (VOI) detected so far worldwide.

While first detected in South Africa, C.1.2 has since been found in England, China, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mauritius, New Zealand, Portugal and Switzerland.

The scientists believe that the number of available sequences of C.1.2 may be an underrepresentation of the spread and frequency of the variant in South Africa and around the world. The study found consistent increases in the number of C.1.2 genomes in South Africa on a monthly basis, rising from 0.2% of genomes sequenced in May to 1.6% in June and then to 2% in July, similar to the increases seen with the Beta and Delta variants there.

The study also found that the C.1.2 lineage has a mutation rate of about 41.8 mutations per year, which is nearly twice as fast as the current global mutation rate of the other variants. The scientists stated that this short period of increased evolution was also seen with the Alpha, Beta and Gamma variants, suggesting that a single event, followed by a spike in cases, drove faster mutation rates.

More than half of the C.1.2 sequences have 14 mutations, but additional mutations have been noticed in some of the sequences, suggesting that evolution within the lineage is ongoing, according to the study. More than half (about 52%) of the mutations in the spike region of the C.1.2 sequences have previously been seen in other VOCs and VOIs. The mutations N440K and Y449H, which have been associated with escape from certain antibodies, have also been noticed in C.1.2 sequences. The scientists stressed that the combination of these mutations, as well as changes in other parts of the virus, likely help the virus evade antibodies and immune responses , including in patients who have already been infected with the Alpha or Beta variants.

The scientists added that further work is required to understand the exact impact of these mutations and to see if they give the variant a competitive advantage over the Delta variant.

The study comes as a doctor in Turkey reported indications that a new coronavirus variant had been detected in the country, with tests detecting mutations that weren't found in the current variants named by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Dr. Lütfi Çamlı told Turkish media that while tests were conducted to detect the presence of variants around Turkey, doctors found a new variant with no connection to the other variants, reaching a rate of about 50%-60% of cases in the northern province of Rize. Çamlı stressed, however, that it is still unclear whether they have actually found a new variant or if it was just the result of false negativity in PCR tests.

The doctor additionally stressed that it is normal for new mutations to emerge in an epidemic and that the mutations recently found in Turkey may not have any serious effect on how the virus functions. Çamlı called for further research and for the results of genomic tests of the samples carried out in Ankara to be released to the public.

As of last Wednesday, the WHO had identified four VOCs and four VOIs. As of last Thursday, the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) had identified five and six respectively. A number of other variants have been designated for further monitoring.


TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: chinavirus; covid; mutation; newvariant; southafrica; variant
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To: Roman_War_Criminal

I live in a red county in NJ.. Practically no one is wearing masks inside or out.


21 posted on 08/29/2021 7:30:26 PM PDT by DivineMomentsOfTruth ("There is but one straight course, and that is to seek truth and pursue it steadily." -GW)
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To: SeekAndFind
concerns that it could be more infectious and evade vaccines

They are desperate to get everyone Jabbed before the Jabbed start dieing off in mass.
22 posted on 08/29/2021 7:32:36 PM PDT by DivineMomentsOfTruth ("There is but one straight course, and that is to seek truth and pursue it steadily." -GW)
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To: DivineMomentsOfTruth

Wish that was the case in my area.


23 posted on 08/29/2021 7:34:33 PM PDT by Roman_War_Criminal (Jesus + Something = Nothing ; Jesus + Nothing = Everything )
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To: SeekAndFind

I think this one can kill you dead just by looking at you.


24 posted on 08/29/2021 7:37:32 PM PDT by Captain Walker ("The side that has Truth gets Humor as a bonus.")
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To: SeekAndFind

From the article (its a pre-print and is awaiting peer review):

“...The scientists stressed that the combination of these mutations, as well as changes in other parts of the virus, likely help the virus evade antibodies and immune responses , including in patients who have already been infected with the Alpha or Beta variants.
....
Çamlı stressed, however, that it is still unclear whether they have actually found a new variant or if it was just the result of false negativity in PCR tests.”

PCR tests.

(facepalm).


25 posted on 08/29/2021 7:39:53 PM PDT by WildHighlander57 ((WildHighlander57 returning after lurking since 2000) )
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To: RummyChick

RummyChick wrote:

“Eli lilly had the FDA pause their antibody treatment and they now have to read a disclaimer to you when you call

This is a big deal.

People cant get the treatment because of a lesser known variant. I think this was one of them but not certain. One of the countries had South in the title”

And this article about the south Africa variant comes out right after Florida and Texas open up a bunch of antibody infusion centers.

Something stinks.


26 posted on 08/29/2021 7:43:54 PM PDT by WildHighlander57 ((WildHighlander57 returning after lurking since 2000) )
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To: SeekAndFind

yeah what happened to the science, you dont vaccinate in the middle of a pandemic...


27 posted on 08/29/2021 7:46:37 PM PDT by rolling_stone
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To: SeekAndFind

When was the last visit by a Chinese person? Was that person healthy? Is that person still in country? Still healthy?


28 posted on 08/29/2021 7:55:04 PM PDT by Rembrandt (-a sure sign a Dem is lying - his lips are moving.)
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To: DivineMomentsOfTruth

Amazing that NJ is not a Red state


29 posted on 08/29/2021 8:02:06 PM PDT by Gene Eric (Don't be a statist!)
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To: SeekAndFind

Takeaway:

The fake ‘vaccines’ are as good as saline, worse if subject health is in consideration.

I’ll have to read this later.

I’d bet that the variant came from a vaxxed subject...


30 posted on 08/29/2021 8:07:31 PM PDT by logi_cal869 (-cynicus the "concern troll" a/o 10/03/2018 /!i!! &@$%&*(@ -)
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To: SeekAndFind

Lambda is C.37. Is this variant, C.1.2, a variant of lambda?


31 posted on 08/29/2021 8:09:30 PM PDT by blueplum ("...this moment is your moment: it belongs to you... " President Donald J. Trump, Jan 20, 2017) )
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Bump


32 posted on 08/29/2021 8:48:46 PM PDT by foreverfree
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To: SeekAndFind

Just how long do they think they can drag this thing out!


33 posted on 08/29/2021 8:54:35 PM PDT by The Right Edge (Staunch Trump Supporter AND PROUD to be!)
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To: The Right Edge
Just how long do they think they can drag this thing out!

As long as there are enough sheep who blindly believe everything the government/media tells them.

34 posted on 08/29/2021 8:56:16 PM PDT by Allegra
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To: DivineMomentsOfTruth
I live in a red county in NJ.. Practically no one is wearing masks inside or out.

Same where I live in central Texas. I see the occasional mask indoors, but they’re the exception, not the rule.

It’s been a while since I’ve seen any masked drivers, alone or with passengers.

35 posted on 08/29/2021 9:00:02 PM PDT by Allegra
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To: RummyChick

I’m not understanding. Who reads a disclaimer and what does it say do u know?


36 posted on 08/29/2021 9:03:26 PM PDT by kelly4c
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To: deks

Why not call it the Mandela variant.


37 posted on 08/29/2021 9:04:00 PM PDT by xp38
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To: hoagy62

They can’t woop 80k - 160k taliban. BUT, they are going to pull a pol pot on 340 million US citizens. I don’t think so. I don’t doubt that they would if they could. But, the truth is they can’t.


38 posted on 08/29/2021 9:06:32 PM PDT by The Right Edge (Staunch Trump Supporter AND PROUD to be!)
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To: Allegra
Scottish Variant
39 posted on 08/29/2021 9:07:04 PM PDT by null and void (No jab/no job=only the compliant can work, they won't spread dangerous ideas around the workplace!)
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To: DOC44

And in it he found more taxpayer dollars. He loves living off of us!


40 posted on 08/29/2021 9:07:55 PM PDT by The Right Edge (Staunch Trump Supporter AND PROUD to be!)
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