First case of new highly transmissible Covid omicron variant detected in SA

The first case of the new highly transmissible Covid omicron variant has been detected in South Africa.

THE FIRST CASE OF NEW COVID-19 VARIANT HAS BEEN DETECTED IN SA

Maria van Kerkhove, Covid-19 technical lead at the World Health Organisation (WHO), this week called XBB.1.5 “the most transmissible sub-variant” detected so far in the pandemic.

The WHO plans an updated assessment of the variant’s risks in the coming days.

First XBB.1.5 detected in SA today by Stellenbosch University, Network for Genomics Surveillance in South Africa (NGS-SA). XBB.1.5 = 1% (1/97 of recent genomes). Isolate from 27-Dec-2022. Interesting, two others assigned as BA.2.75 with extra Spike F486P mutation. Tweet 1/2

— Tulio de Oliveira (@Tuliodna) January 6, 2023

ALSO READ: COVID-19: What the Health Department says about the new variant

THIS IS ‘THE MOST TRANSMISSIBLE SUB-VARIANT’ DETECTED SO FAR

According to the Department of Health, it had been alerted to the presence of the new XBB.1.5 variant and was meeting with scientists to get more information on its transmissibility and severity.

The variant was discovered in gene sequencing carried out by researchers at Stellenbosch University from a December 27 sample, tweeted Tulio de Oliveira, head of a gene-sequencing institute at the university.

The variant has been nicknamed “kraken variant” by some.

XBB.1.5 has quickly become the dominant strain in the US and has been detected in at least 28 other countries, according to the WHO.

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IS MEETING WITH SCIENTISTS

It’s yet to be identified in China, which is undergoing a surge in infections after relaxing strict controls that limited the effect of previous waves of Covid-19 in the country.

De Oliveira said this has so far had no effect on cases, hospitalisations, or deaths seen in South Africa.

.@HealthZA has been alerted about this highly transmissable XBB.1.5 variant and is currently in discussions with the scientists to gather more information including its transmissibility and severity. Thus, an official communication will be made in due course. #COVID19

— National Department of Health (@HealthZA) January 7, 2023

ALSO READ: Covid-19 is still an international emergency: WHO

WHAT IS THE NEW VARIANT?

XBB.1.5 is a descendant of the omicron XBB subvariant — which is itself a cross between two earlier strains: BA.2.75 and BA.2.10.1. 

The original XBB variant has already caused waves of infection in countries including Singapore and India since the WHO first raised concern about it last October.