A new variant of the SarsCoV2 virus has appeared: it is called C.1.2 and has some mutations similar to those seen in some variants known so far, plus other mutations: the South African Institute for Infectious Diseases (Nicd) reports this on the website medRXiv, which collects the studies not yet subjected to scrutiny by the scientific community,
The new variant was detected for the first time last May in all South African provinces with a relatively low frequency (up to 2%). The World Health Organization (WHO) and the South African Department of Health issued an alert last July on its circulation of this variant and the South African network for genomic surveillance Ngs-Sa is continuing to monitor its frequency and test it to evaluate it. the impact. So far it does not have the requirements, established by the WHO, to be defined as an interest variant (Voi) or a worrying variant (Voc).
Mutations already seen in Beta and Delta variants plus other new ones have been observed in its genome. C.1.2. it is an evolution from variant C.1, one of those that had dominated in the first wave of Covid infections in South Africa, and was last detected last January. C.1.2, in addition to South Africa, has also been found in Africa, Europe, Asia and Oceania.
"We are still cautious about its implications for transmissibility and effects. We are collecting more data to understand better. Based on what we know about this variant, we suspect it may be able to partially escape the immune response. However, vaccines still offer high levels of protection against hospitalization and deaths, "writes the Nicd.
The variant presents some mutations on the spike protein, already observed in other worrying variants and associated with a greater transmissibility of the virus and a reduced immune action. However, the researchers conclude, it is unlikely to negatively affect the sensitivity of molecular buffers. Surveillance is high to understand its transmissibility and its ability to escape vaccines.