"Supervariant" identified in South Africa, the worst one so far

Discussion in 'Coronavirus Pandemic Discussions' started by CenterField, Nov 26, 2021.

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  1. CenterField

    CenterField Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    A new SARS-CoV-2 variant called B.1.1.529 has shown the largest number of important mutations so far. It has 32 mutations in its spike protein, and 10 in the region that binds to the ACE2 receptor. This is unprecedented. Pre-Delta variants had respectively about 5 and 2 mutations in these regions, and Delta had about 15 and 5.

    For now, the variant has only been identified in South Africa, Botswana, and Hong Kong. But it is spreading rapidly in South Africa and appears to be more infectious than Delta.

    The large number of mutations in the spike protein may make the vaccines less effective. It will probably escape monoclonal antibodies, and natural immunity.

    The UK is suspending flights from South Africa and Botswana, and neighboring Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini and Zimbabwe.

    Virologists from the Imperial College London have called this variant's spike profile "horrific."

    Multiple times, a variant just fizzles. So, we'll see. This one is not yet called a variant of concern, but it is worth keeping an eye on it.
     
  2. Andrew Jackson

    Andrew Jackson Well-Known Member

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    Scary...
    Spike Proteins...
     
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  3. Aleksander Ulyanov

    Aleksander Ulyanov Well-Known Member

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    They'll just develop another booster. We're going to need another shot by next year anyway.

    This is rapidly becoming last year's crisis.
     
    Last edited: Nov 26, 2021
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  4. CenterField

    CenterField Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    I've heard these optimistic thoughts before.
     
  5. submarinepainter

    submarinepainter Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    I think the Israeli's are having trouble with this same variant ,
    Israel Is on the Verge of a State of Emergency Over Variant, PM Bennett Says (msn.com)
     
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  6. nopartisanbull

    nopartisanbull Well-Known Member

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    I just ask a poster the following question;

    “What have you done/will keep doing to protect yourself and others?”

    His answer; Nothing!

    IMO, it is everyone’s responsibility to protect themselves and others.
     
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  7. Durandal

    Durandal Well-Known Member Donor

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    On the bright side, oil prices are crashing again.
     
  8. truth and justice

    truth and justice Well-Known Member

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    As written in a different thread but related to your link:
     
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  9. CenterField

    CenterField Well-Known Member Past Donor

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  10. CenterField

    CenterField Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    We'll see. But what you said is correct. That's why I said, sometimes a variant just fizzles. Or it could be less virulent. As of now, I believe that not much is known about this variant's behavior, which is why it hasn't been labeled a variant of concern, yet.
     
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  11. Hey Now

    Hey Now Well-Known Member

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    Omicron now labeled a variant of concern
     
    Last edited: Nov 26, 2021
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  12. CenterField

    CenterField Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Last edited: Nov 26, 2021
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  13. kreo

    kreo Well-Known Member

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    another BS from world elitists.
     
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  14. Matticus77

    Matticus77 Well-Known Member

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  15. Joe knows

    Joe knows Well-Known Member

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  16. CenterField

    CenterField Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Belgium also with a case. So, other than the Southern African region, it's been found in Hong Kong, Israel and Belgium. Not yet in the United States.
    The Biden Administration will implement a travel ban from affected regions but it only kicks in on Monday, which in my opinion is a mistake.
    The European Union implemented a ban immediately.

    This said, we still don't know if this variant is more infectious (although there is a hint that it might be) and/or more resistant to the vaccines (but the high number of mutations is concerning). We also don't know if it will spread fast or fizzle. But obviously, the situation is concerning, especially if it turns out that this variant is more likely to re-infect those who had Covid-19 before.

    This, with the bad news about the Merck drug (only 30% effective, prone to causing birth defects) made for a certainly discouraging day.

    I have more hope for the Pfizer drug. Unlike the Merck drug that introduces gene mutations (thus the birth defects problem, seen in animal studies), the Pfizer drug doesn't interfere with genes, and inhibits a process that all variants need to replicate. Fingers crossed that its efficacy (89%) is confirmed, no bad side effects show up, and it becomes a great weapon to curb something like the Omicron variant.
     
    Last edited: Nov 27, 2021
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  17. CenterField

    CenterField Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    By the way, while I do support a travel ban, all that it does is that it results in some delay, some time gained. If this variant is prone to spreading, it will spread. But gaining time is important, for example, for the Pfizer drug to get approved and distributed, if it indeed pays off.
     
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  18. Zorro

    Zorro Well-Known Member

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    Seems like we skipped over something. "The last COVID strain was called “Nu.” Going down the Greek alphabet, today’s new variant is called “Omicron.”"

    [​IMG]
    https://pjmedia.com/instapundit/487724/
     
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  19. truth and justice

    truth and justice Well-Known Member

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    Seems pointless banning any flights. If a case is found in, say, Belgium, you can guarantee that there are already many cases in that country. For a start, how many Covid cases are even tested to see Which variant they have. I know many who have caught Covid, none were tested to see which variant they had
     
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  20. Lil Mike

    Lil Mike Well-Known Member

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    Heh, it's a total mystery!
     
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  21. ToughTalk

    ToughTalk Well-Known Member

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    Sounds like a cool transformer. Likely a decepticon. What's even more likely is that I don't give a ****.
     
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  22. kreo

    kreo Well-Known Member

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    More vaccines = more mutations.
    Apparently viruses are not dumb.
     
  23. Eleuthera

    Eleuthera Well-Known Member Donor

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    That is the correct reaction--fear. Embrace it, it's good for the soul of the herd. :nod:
     
  24. Eleuthera

    Eleuthera Well-Known Member Donor

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    Do you mean 'more gene therapy injections' = more mutations?
     
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  25. kreo

    kreo Well-Known Member

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    I guess, that is how common cold virus works. Inject more genetic material to stimulate virus mutations.
     

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