Late last year the Network for Genomic Surveillance in South Africa (NGS-SA) led by the KwaZulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform (KRISP) identified a rapidly spreading new variant of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The new variant, called 501Y.V2, raises critical questions – including whether current vaccines and treatments will still be effective.
Don t call it the SA variant , scientists and researchers plead Top researchers say new variant could have begun in any country, and could appear in any country, and labelling it “the South African variant” was unjust and damaging 19 January 2021 - 07:00 The new variant spreads 50% faster than its predecessor but is not more severe, researchers say. Image: 123RF/ktsdesign
A group of South African and international scientists have taken a strong stand against calling 501. V2, the latest variant of SARS-CoV-2 spreading like wildfire across the country, “the South African variant”.
Top researchers, who have delved into the variant for the benefit of all, say that it could have begun in any country, and could appear in any country, and labelling it “the South African variant” just because of the country’s in-depth analysis of the variant, is unjust and damaging.
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