EXPERT REACTION: Could South Africa’s new, mutated variant be worse than Delta? (preprint*)
Observational study: A study in which the subject is observed to see if there is a relationship between two or more things (eg: the consumption of diet drinks and obesity). Observational studies cannot prove that one thing causes another, only that they are linked.
Cells: This is a study based on research in micro-organisms, cells, tissue, organs or non-human embryos.
Scientists from South Africa have reported a new potential COVID-19 variant of interest called C.1.2. This variant has been detected in South Africa from May 2021 onwards and has been detected in seven other countries including New Zealand. The paper, which is a preprint and is yet to be peer reviewed, suggests C.1.2 has accumulated a high number of mutations. Many of these mutations have been identified in all four variants of concern (Alpha, Beta, Delta and Gamma) but there are also additional mutations. The authors say these mutations providing sufficient cause for concern of continued transmission of this variant.
Journal/conference: medRxiv
Link to research (DOI): 10.1101/2021.08.20.21262342
Organisation/s: National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) of the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS), South Africa
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Expert Reaction
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