SOUTH AFRICA-Covid-19 Variant

Dave58 wrote:

ReadyMom wrote:It's spreading into other countries. Here's some articles  Fluwiki, over on Facebook.

Israel detects its first case of new, highly mutated COVID-19 strain
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-detects-first-case-of-new-highly-mutated-covid-19-strain/?fbclid=IwAR0b9AaYAe8zIGzSLy_eURFkoF3p7nr7OL5djWt3IMWxt92VtkUNgVAxEZY

Belgium confirms case of new, heavily mutated Covid variant
https://www.cnbc.com/2021/11/26/belgium-confirms-case-of-new-heavily-mutated-covid-variant.html?fbclid=IwAR2Vvz6_ttnXonYSyQ5O19DZwOTikiV-BDavITrt-cOyVh5vubo1HwM6egE

  I know this is not going to end for a very long time , but I can't help but feel that if people would wear a mask in the stores and just wash their hands it would help a lot...

“B.1.1529 is a new lineage that has been found in Botswana that carries an unusual constellation of mutations. Given the large number of mutations it has accumulated apparently in a single burst, it likely evolved during a chronic infection of an immunocompromised person, possibly in an untreated HIV/AIDS patient.

“It is difficult to know what to make of the carriage of both P681H and N679K. It is a combination we see only exceptionally rarely. I suspect it is generally not ‘stable’, but it might be so, in combination with other mutations/deletions.

(Note: The SMC post refers to B.1.1529, while the NICD refers to B.1.1.529. For now, I've gone with the NICD announcement's nomenclature).

Bombastic headlines aside, it will take some time before we can know if B.1.1.529 has the ability to take on the juggernaut that is the Delta Variant; probably months.

Dave58 wrote:   I know this is not going to end for a very long time , but I can't help but feel that if people would wear a mask in the stores and just wash their hands it would help a lot...

rick1 wrote:Once it hits the U.S. and starts to spread, you know the head clown will mandate everything from masks to being locked down in your own home.

If he was smart, he would stop all air travel from outside the U.S.. But that wouldn't matter, as they are freely coming across our southern border and being distributed throughout our country.

Rather than the 22 cases mentioned in yesterday's press release, the number of confirmed cases in South Africa is reportedly now well over 1,000, and rising rapidly.

Exact numbers via genomic sequencing take time and abundant resources, but this new variant - much like Alpha - carries mutations that produce an ‘S Gene Target Failure’ on many PCR tests, which can give us a rough estimate of its prevalence.

Overnight the UK announced that starting today, six South African nations - South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia and Zimbabwe - would be placed on their travel `Red list',

While there is a lot we still don't know about this new variant, preliminary reports suggest this strain might be less deterred by prior immunity from either infection or vaccination, and it appears to be competing well against Delta in Gauteng, South Africa.

Today, the WHO held a hastily convened emergency session of their TWG (Technical Working Group) on the virus evolution, and have released the following statement on their decision to elevate B.1.1.529 (now dubbed Omicron), to VOC (Variant of Concern) status.

They also said that it's probably here in the U.S., but just hasn't been detected yet.

rick1 wrote:Omicro now in the EU, spreading like wildfire.
Corn pop put a travel ban on South Africa, funny thing though, it doesn't take affect until Monday. This gives another 2 days of flights from South Africa, what a clown :
https://www.politico.com/news/2021/11/26/biden-admin-announces-travel-ban-for-south-africa-and-7-other-countries-citing-new-variant-523394
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/covid-live-omicron-variant-spreads-to-europe-uk-expert-says-reboot-of-pandemic-extremely-unlikely/ar-AARbTKm

"It presents mild disease with symptoms being sore muscles and tiredness for a day or two not feeling well," Coetzee explained. "So far, we have detected that those infected do not suffer the loss of taste or smell. They might have a slight cough. There are no prominent symptoms. Of those infected some are currently being treated at home."

ReadyMom wrote:South African doctor says omicron variant symptoms ‘unusual but mild’
https://www.foxnews.com/health/south-african-doctor-omicron-variant-symptoms-unusual-mild

"It presents mild disease with symptoms being sore muscles and tiredness for a day or two not feeling well," Coetzee explained. "So far, we have detected that those infected do not suffer the loss of taste or smell. They might have a slight cough. There are no prominent symptoms. Of those infected some are currently being treated at home."