New South African variant virus hits Hong Kong

The Regal Airport Hotel broke out in hotel transmission earlier, and both patients carried the new variant virus strain B.1.1.529 that first appeared in South Africa.

Government expert consultant Xu Shuchang said today (26th) that the highly contagious variant virus strain Delta has greatly reduced the new crown vaccine. The new virus strain also has a large number of genetic mutations in more than 30 locations. Worries also affect the efficacy and transmission of the vaccine. Strong, it is recommended that Hong Kong follow the British approach and prohibit entry of people from southern Africa.

Recently, a neighboring room transmission group case occurred at the Regal Airport Hotel. The Center for Health Protection stated yesterday that two patients had the newly emerged virus strain lineage B.1.1.529, similar to those found in South Africa and Botswana, Africa.

It is reported that "B.1.1.529" has 32 mutations in the spike protein. Mutations in the spike protein affect the ability of the virus to infect cells and spread, but also make it more difficult for immune cells to attack pathogens.

Xu Shuchang, a government expert consultant and chair professor of the Department of Respiratory System at CUHK, stated on the commercial radio "Starting on a Sunny Day" that some studies have found that the variant virus Delta reduces the vaccine efficacy to 40% to 80%, and the new virus strain also has a large number of genetic mutations. Worry will affect the efficacy of the vaccine more, and the spreading power may also be higher.

He mentioned that the United Kingdom has banned the entry of people from several countries in southern Africa where new strains of the virus have emerged, and suggested that Hong Kong follow suit.

Britain announced on Friday that it will temporarily ban flights from six countries including South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho and Swadini.

However, the Center for Health Protection said yesterday that scientific data on the impact of the virus strain on public health is still insufficient, and the World Health Organization has designated this lineage as a virus strain under further monitoring (Variants Under Monitoring).

Xu Shuchang said that the new virus strain has a large number of genetic mutations, and worries will affect the efficacy of the vaccine, and the transmission power may also be higher.

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Worry about the vaccine’s effectiveness against new variants of new crown pneumonia, England and Israel suspended flights from South Africa.

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