One of the main reasons why the Covid-19 pandemic has not been controlled is due to the nature of the SARS-CoV-2 virus to be mutated. For this reason, although there are already several vaccines developed, it is not the end of the problem. In fact, just a few days ago the appearance of the new C.1.2 variant was reported in South Africa and warned of its potential harm.
Based on the health authorities of that country, the first cases occurred in May of this year. Since then their presence has gradually increased. It has also spread throughout the world, being identified in China, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, England, New Zealand, Portugal and Switzerland.
It’s dangerous but not worrying
However, unlike its predecessor known as C.1 and also emerged in South Africa, the new one was initially described as “a constellation of worrisome mutations”. For this reason, a call was made for extreme precautions because it could become quite dangerous and affect the effectiveness of the vaccines already available.
Despite the above, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that there is still much research to be done. While the current evidence is insufficient to affirm that variant C.1.2 can really be included in the classification “of concern”.
With this in mind, the highest health body stressed that there is no strong evidence to show that it is more dangerous or affects the performance of immunizations. He added that work on the subject should continue and should not be underestimated with respect to other lineages.
What does the research say about it?
For its part, the prepress repository MedRxiv published the results of a study that has yet to be peer-reviewed. What you mention is that the C.1.2 variant has mutated substantially compared to its predecessor.
The study found steady increases in the number of C.1.2 genomes in South Africa every month. Going from 0.2 percent of the genomes sequenced in May to 1.6 percent in June and then 2 percent in July.
He also mentions that this new variant has a mutation rate of approximately 418 mutations per year. Which is about twice as fast as the current global mutation rate of the other variants.
Although despite the aforementioned, the WHO reiterates that it is still too early to consider this variant as “of concern”. Therefore, at the moment the only ones found in that classification are the following:
- Alpha – B.1.1.7 – Released in the UK.
- Beta – B.1.351 – Appeared in South Africa.
- Gamma – P.1 – Appeared in Brazil.
- Delta – B.1.617.2 – Appeared in India.