COVID-19

2023 - 1 - 8

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Image courtesy of "eNCA"

Severity of new COVID-19 variant unknown (eNCA)

The first case of the XBB.1.5 COVID-19 variant has been identified in South Africa.

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Image courtesy of "Independent Online"

South Africa detects its first most transmissible Covid variant (Independent Online)

“At present, no increase in cases, hospitalisation or deaths. NGS-SA (Network for Genomics Surveillance in South Africa (NGS-SA), is increasing genomics ...

In October last year, the world health body said the XBB variant has a global prevalence of 1.3 percent and it has been detected in 35 countries. “At present, no increase in cases, hospitalisation or deaths. On January 4, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said it would continue to closely monitor the situation in the People’s Republic of China and globally and urged all countries to continue to be vigilant, to monitor and report sequences, as well as to conduct independent and comparative analyses of the different omicron sublineages, including on the severity of disease they cause.

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Image courtesy of "News24"

Jury still out on new highly transmissible COVID-19 variant as ... (News24)

According to the head of the University of Stellenbosch gene-sequencing institute, Professor Tulio de Oliveira, a gene-sequencing carried out from a December 27 ...

The newly discovered variant is yet to be detected in China, which is currently going through a heave in infections following reports of relaxed control measures that enabled the country to limit the effect of previous waves of COVID-19 in the country. According to the head of the University of Stellenbosch gene-sequencing institute, Professor Tulio de Oliveira, a gene-sequencing carried out from a December 27 sample brought to the fore confirmation of the discovery of the variant in the Western Cape. An intensive information gathering undertaking is underway by the Department of Health following the recent detection of a highly transmissible variant of COVID-19, nicknamed ‘the kraken’.

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Image courtesy of "SABC News"

No need for panic following first case of XBB.1.5 COVID-19 sub ... (SABC News)

What we do not want is to begin when the virus has spread beyond what is reasonable.” Health activist Dr Kgosi Letlape:.

New variants are to be expected as the virus continues to spread. The experts say current vaccines continue to protect against severe symptoms, hospitalisation and death. It is an offshoot of XBB, first detected in October, which is itself a recombinant of two other Omicron sub-variants. What we do not want is to begin when the virus has spread beyond what is reasonable.” The variant was discovered in gene sequencing carried out by researchers at Stellenbosch University from a December 27 sample. “Hopefully they will come forward with the information of who was the patient, where was it found, where did the patient come from, did the patient travel and that the precautionary measures of isolation and tracing of contacts will begin.

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