New Coronavirus Variant <br />in South Africa, Is Focus of Researchers.<br />Researchers are referring to this <br />variant as C.1.2.<br />In addition to South Africa, C.1.2 has emerged <br />in at least seven other countries on the continents <br />of Africa and Asia, as well as Oceana.<br />Researchers are unsure about how this variant compares to other detected variants.<br />It does appear to exhibit mutations that have <br />made other variants more transmissible, and<br />therefore more dangerous.<br />We are currently assessing the impact of this variant on antibody neutralization following SARS-CoV-2 infection or vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 in South Africa, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, via report.<br />This variant has been detected throughout the third wave of infections in South Africa from May 2021 onwards, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, via report.<br />Researchers with the World Health Organization (WHO) also described how the emergence of the C.1.2 variant...<br />... is consistent with the history of the pandemic so far.<br />The identification of novel SARS-CoV-2 variants is commonly associated with new waves of infection, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, via report.<br />To date there are around 100 sequences of C.1.2 reported globally, the earliest reports from May '21 from South Africa, Maria van Kerkhove, WHO, via CNN.<br />WHO officials also spoke to the current understanding <br />of the transmissibility of the C.1.2 variant.<br />At this time, C.1.2 does not appear to be rising in circulation, Maria van Kerkhove, WHO, via CNN.<br />Monitoring & assessment of variants is ongoing & critically important to understand the evolution of this virus, in fighting COVID-19 & adapting strategies as needed, Maria van Kerkhove, WHO, via CNN.<br />The C.1.2 variant has not yet been cited by <br />the WHO as a variant of concern
