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By Nathan Craig 
6h ago
Durban – A KZN team that discovered the 501.V2 variant of Covid-19, which experts describe as highly transmissible, says it is the driving force behind the country’s second wave and is making people young and once healthy, now they are seriously ill.
The announcement was made by Health Minister Zweli Mkhize, Ministerial Advisory Committee Co-Chair Professor Salim Abdool Karim, and Professor Tulio de Oliveira, Director of the KwaZulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequence Platform (Krisp) , on Friday.
The professors emphasized that the discovery was not a new strain but a variant of the same virus that has multiple mutations. This was unusually high for a variant and allows for easier attachment within the human body.
De Oliveira and his team at Krisp made the discovery using genomic sequencing, which they say they hoped to teach them more about Covid-19. They have sequenced hundreds of samples from across the country since the pandemic began in March.
“Genomic sequencing is vital to understanding Covid-19. In the first wave, it was clear that there were some variants that represented more cases than others, but they were not as dominant as the new variant. This new lineage appeared very quickly and began to dominate almost all the genomes we analyzed in the last two months. Ninety percent of this second wave is dominated by this single lineage, however, in the first wave, three or four lineages accounted for between a third and 40% of all cases, ”he said.
De Oliveira said scientists did not know where it originated, but knew that it began to spread rapidly in Nelson Mandela Bay, then moved down the Garden Route, and was also dominant in Gauteng and the Western Cape.
“The next steps are to collect more clinical and epidemiological evidence, as well as to expand and strengthen genomic surveillance. We intend to intensify sampling in the Eastern Cape, Western Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal to understand the persistence of this lineage. We must also expand the sampling to assess the extent of its dissemination within the country and link it with clinical investigations of suspected reinfections and development of serious diseases, “he said.
Karim added that while the discovery was still new and more time was needed, teams were already spending hours answering some of the burning questions.
“We don’t know where it came from or why it was formed and why, in Nelson Mandela Bay. It is also too early to know if it is more serious, it will re-infect those who were infected by the first wave or if current vaccines will work against this variant. But what is known is the period of isolation and preventive measures, such as the use of masks, social distancing and disinfection. We will also continue with the vaccination plans ”.
Mkhize said De Oliveira and his genomics team shared their findings with the World Health Organization and the wider scientific community.
He said it was Krisp’s team that alerted the UK to the 501.V2 variant, prompting them to study their own samples and later found that a similar mutation was the variant that fueled its resurgence in London.
“This led to a UK parliamentary announcement and the institution of a blockade on Wednesday in London, to curb the spread of this variant. This is the caliber of our scientists, ”Mkhize said.
Mkhize said no further lockdown recommendations were made to Ramaphosa and current regulations were upheld.
“We did not expect the second wave to emerge so quickly or to arrive during the holiday season, which is one of the worst periods, as the behavior of the holidays could increase infections. The complacency has started and people have gotten tired of complying with the regulations, ”he said.
Mkhize lashed out at the country’s youth for their negligent behavior in circulating videos showing drinking and the lack of use of masks and social distancing, which could increase infections.
“There was an increase in infections when citizens traveled this holiday season. We expect another hit in January when the return trip begins. “
Blade Nzimande, Minister for Higher Education, Science and Technology, said that a budget of R45 million was requested to continue research and studies, but that only R25 million would be allocated.
Today (Sunday) KZN Prime Minister Sihle Zikala is expected together with the MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Ravi Pillay, MEC for Health, Nomagugu Simelane-Zulu and Bheki Ntuli, the MEC for Transport, Security community and liaison, reveal strategies to stem the tide of uncontrolled infections in the province.
In the time period between Monday night, when President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation about the resurgence, and Friday night, when the announcement was made, a total of 8,698 new infections were confirmed in KZN. , which represented about 25% of all. new infections across the country during the same time period.
Read the full presentations below from Professor Tulio de Oliveira and Professor Salim Abdool Karim:
Sunday grandstand
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