The new C.1.2 variant has now spread to various provinces in South Africa, and seven other countries in Africa, Europe, Asia and Oceania
New Covid-19 variant C.1.2 detected in South Africa. (Credit: PIRO4D from Pixabay.)
Genetics researchers in South Africa have reportedly detected a new coronavirus variant with multiple mutations, dubbed C.1.2, according to a study that is yet to be peer-reviewed.
The new variant C.1.2 was initially identified in May this year and has spread to various provinces in South Africa, and seven other countries in Africa, Europe, Asia and Oceania.
Scientists are currently evaluating the strain to determine whether it is more contagious or can overcome the immunity provided by vaccines or previous infection, reported Reuters.
The C.1.2 variant is said to contain various mutations related to other variants with increased transmissibility and reduced sensitivity to neutralising antibodies.
The mutations are observed in a different mix, making it difficult for scientists to know how they would affect the behaviour of the virus.
Researchers are currently conducting laboratory tests on C.1.2 to establish the effect of neutralising antibodies on the new variant.
C.1.2 research author Richard Lessells told Reuters: “This pandemic is far from over and that this virus is still exploring ways to potentially get better at infecting us.
“People should not be overly alarmed at this stage and that variants with more mutations were bound to emerge further into the pandemic.
“C.1.2 may have more immune evasion properties than Delta, based on its pattern of mutations, and that the findings had been flagged to the WHO.”
Beta variant is one of only four ‘Variants of Concern’ as categorised by the World Health Organization (WHO), was first identified in South Africa.
Compared to the original version of the coronavirus, Beta variant is believed to spread more easily and has evidence that vaccines are less effective against it.
According to Reuters, genomic sequencing data showed that the C.1.2 variant has not had the potential to displace the dominant Delta variant in the last month.
Last month, C.1.2 accounted for 3% of samples compared to 1% in June, whereas Delta accounted for 67% in June compared to 89% in July.