Valerie Macon, AFP
Studies of the blood of 44 people who had Covid-19 in the first wave show, that their antibodies are much less effective against 501Y.V2.
Studies suggest those individuals might be susceptible to re-infection.
The variant was first discovered in South Africa in 2020.
Studies of blood taken from 44 people who previously had Covid-19, show that their antibodies are much less effective against 501Y.V2.
This was what was said in a presentation on Thursday by Professor Penny Moore, the South African Research Chairs Initiative (Sarchi) chairperson of viral host dynamics (virology) at the University of the Witwatersrand. The question is whether [the antibodies of] people who were infected with the original variant.are able to recognise 501Y.V2, she said.
Covid-19: First wave antibodies much less effective against 501Y.V2 – professor
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Studies of blood taken from 44 people who previously had Covid-19, show that their antibodies are much less effective against 501Y.V2.
This was what was said in a presentation on Thursday by Professor
A third wave could be only three to four months away, amidst a new, more infectious SARS-CoV-2 variant (the virus that causes Covid-19), 501Y.V2, that emerged during our second wave and is now dominant in South Africa. The new variant has also changed itself in such a way that it can evade the antibodies that our bodies produce in response to the original version of the virus.
We’ve created an interactive map to show you how SARS-CoV-2 spread through South Africa between September 2020 and January 2021 (during this time the new variant, 501Y.V2, became dominant).
Last week, South Africa started to roll-out Johnson & Johnson vaccines that are 85% effective in protecting against severe Covid disease (the type of Covid that makes people end up in hospital or die).
Hindsight is 2020: Three lessons from our second wave news24.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from news24.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.