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.
Our reaction to a minor pandemic is rather severe. This isn’t the Spanish flu. Mostly our elderly have been dying. With the Spanish flu, our young folks were dying of the influenza.
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Yep, I see the normal cold/flu virus mutation pattern.
Exactly right, Gene..
If not for election and voter fraud in the Urban areas, NJ would have declared Trump the Winner.
I don’t fear covid nearly as much as the lying scum that are so adamant about injecting me with something.
Not to worry. The great and mighty Fauci has declared the vaccines are effective against variants of Kung Flu.
It’s not fraud if it’s not prosecuted.
Variants of the original are not going to be much different. But then you get variants of the variants, then variants of the variants of the variants, and so forth.
Eli lilly has to read disclaimers when you call them. They have to notify you that their treatment has been paused because of two lesser variants
Regeneron has not been paused.
.the problem is that the FDA is pausing when a different variant comes along. ...meaning at any time fda could pause regeneron because another variant comes along
So what i am trying to tell people here is that variants are a big deal
That’s right there’s what, 3 different companies making antibodies, regeneron, Lilly, and another one that I can’t remember the name of.
#16. I can’t offer any advice on “five more booster shots” (You sound like a rocket launch) but re “many diapers on my face”, I can. It all DEPENDS on how much money you have and want to spend on “Diaper Face Masks”. In the end, it will probably make no difference.
Oops, I forgot to use my sarcasm font.
#39 - LOL!
Allegra ~ As long as there are enough sheep who blindly believe everything the government/media tells them.
If only they can slaughter all the sheep who don't, they think they can do it forever...
The problem is they DON'T ever pause the vaccine for any new variant that it doesn't work on.
Last year's flu shot for this year's flu!
Get yer shots! Get your last year's shots here, there, everywhere!
Fabulous prizes to be won!
If you dont want the vaccine there are some possible alternatives.
Studies have looked at several other vaccines for cross reactivity
Pneumonia, DTAP (DTWP), HIB, MMR are possibilities
Ok, so I gather this isn’t Lamda? These new and improved variants are guaranteed? Do they have a warranty?
Here’s The Thing. The entire globe knows this came from China. Many, or most believe it’s the result of a gain of function virus that was deliberately enhanced and fiddled with. And YET, no country has attempted to change their trade policies, started to manufacture goods instead of importing them from China. No country has suggested punishing China. We are captives. In our own lives many of us conciously check for and avoid purchasing items made there. But- that’s hardly going to threaten their hold on the world.
I haven’t looked into it- but I wonder where Pfizer, J&J and Moderna get the ingredients for vaccines? HCQ and ivermectin, for that matter.
And now Variant #xyzwhatever.
I predict they will run through the Greek alphabet in naming the variants in my life time.
Okay, who’s got the oh-no-not-this-****-again guy meme...?
And it can be cured with a daily oral dose of any fine Scottish single malt!
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