Reuters SIPHIWE SIBEKO
A team of scientists in South Africa revealed the characteristics of the mutation of the Corona virus discovered in the country, indicating that it is more contagious, but it does not cause more severe disease than other mutations.
In a study by the team of scientists about the mutation called 501Y.V2, the chief epidemiologist in South Africa, Salem Abdul Karim, said that scientists have evidence that it joins cells in the human body stronger and more actively, which accelerates them more contagious.
At the same time, the scientist indicated that the currently available data indicate that the new strain does not cause more severe disease, adding that the recent increase in the number of infected people who were transferred to hospitals has nothing to do with the mentioned mutation.
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He added that the risk of dying from infection with the Coronavirus did not change during the second wave of the pandemic in South Africa.
According to him, research suggests that natural antibodies appear to be less effective against the South African mutation, but scientists are unable to answer the question about whether vaccines are less effective against it.
It is noteworthy that the South African mutation was discovered late last year in the same period with the discovery of another, more contagious mutation in Britain.
Scientists have not yet confirmed which of the mutations is more dangerous than previously known.
Source: Reuters
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