There have been many changes in coronavirus ever since scientists have been monitoring it. Since the changes in the last months of last year, so far, mainly three variants of the Corona have come to light. New variants of Corona arrived in the UK and Brazil last year, while another variant has been identified in South Africa recently.
According to WHO (World Health Organization), the new strain of corona is more infectious and reduces the effects of vaccines and antibodies. It has spread to many countries in a short time.
According to the WHO, the South African variant differs in many respects from the new variants of the coronavirus found in Britain and Brazil. It is more contagious than the original virus. However, before it was recognized, the UK variant i.e. B.1.1.7 was more contagious and it has reached 40 countries including America.
Huge efforts are ongoing at characterizing the variant and understanding its emergence. A mutation of the emaciated African variant is known as N501Y. This has made the new variant of the virus more contagious. According to the WHO, this variant may also reduce the effects of antibodies. Researchers in South Africa believe that the new variant is 50 percent more contagious than both the old. However, WHO stated the need for further study on this, saying that studies so far in South Africa do not indicate the risk of being infected again.
Another variation in the South African variant is named E484. This change has not happened in the UK variant. It helps the virus in dodging a person’s immune system and reducing the effects of the Covid-19 vaccine.
