Heavily mutated coronavirus variant puts scientists on alert – “Researchers are racing to determine whether a fast-spreading variant in South Africa poses a threat to COVID vaccines’ effectiveness”.

Heavily mutated coronavirus variant puts scientists on alert – Nature

See also:

Covid: New heavily mutated variant B.1.1.529 in South Africa raises concern – BBC

WHO calls special meeting to discuss new Covid variant found in South Africa with ‘a large number of mutations’ – CNBC

New COVID-19 Variant With Multiple Concerning Mutations Identified in Southern Africa – Health Policy Watch

Scientists warn of new Covid variant with high number of mutations – The Guardian

South Africa detects new COVID variant with many mutations – MedicalXpress

Related commentary on Twitter (thread – click for more)

THREAD on the new variant B.1.1.529 summarising what is known from the excellent South African Ministry of Health meeting earlier today

TLDR: So much uncertain but what *is* known is extremely worrying & (in my opinion) we should revise red list immediately.

This is why: 1/16

— Prof. Christina Pagel (@chrischirp) November 25, 2021