There’s no certainty where the new South African COVID-19 variant strain came from. It may have traveled across the 2,900-mile inland border, or arrived by sea somewhere on the 1,800-mile maritime strip. It may also be a home-brewed variety. Something similar could happen in North America. Hence the Fauci concerns about the South African variant 501Y.V2 are relevant to us.
What Exactly Are the Fauci Concerns About the South African Strain
White House adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci highlighted two concerns in an interview with CNBC Health and Science on January 12, 2021.
1… The more infectious, mutated strain could pose a threat to COVID antibody treatments
2… There is ‘more than a threat’ the strain would evade some of the antibody treatment protections
However, Centers for Disease Control CDC had apparently not concurred with the director of National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases when we published. Its position appeared to be there is still no evidence to show the mutations alter the effectiveness of current vaccines.
How Worried Ought We to Be About South Africa’s COVID Strain
CDC had apparently not detected the 501Y.V2 variant in United States by January 14, 2021 at the time of writing. However, it had found at least 72 cases of the United Kingdom B.1.1.7 strain. Laboratories in South Africa and America are working hard to unravel the Fauci concerns about the South African strain.
For the rest of us there’s little more we can do besides taking every precaution to avoid COVID-19 infection by any strain. This means maintaining interpersonal distances, cleansing hands frequently, covering our mouths and noses, and avoiding groups of people.
‘People ask me, ‘Are you worried about it?’ Dr. Fauci admitted to CNBC Health and Science. ‘These are not the kind of things I worry about, but it’s the kind of thing that I take very seriously.’ Perhaps we should worry more about it too.
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Open Questions About South African Variant
High Antibody Rate Among South Africans
Preview Image: Reduced Binding Affinity
