Scientists are working to understand the effects of the new Corona virus type B1.1.529, of which 100 cases have so far been discovered in South Africa, Hong Kong, Israel and Botswana.
Scientists say this new type of corona has undergone a number of unusual mutations that are worrying because it could potentially make it more resistant to the body's immune response and more contagious.
In fact, they say, any new species that could invade the immune response or be more contagious than the Delta could be a major threat to the world.
Dr Susan Hopkins, chief medical officer of the UK Health Security Agency, said B1.1.529's RV value or reproduction number is currently 2, which is indicated in the South African province of Gothing where it is spreading.
He said that 2RV value is the number of outbreaks of the virus which has not been recorded since the onset of the epidemic.
What has been discovered so far?
Preliminary analyzes by diagnostic laboratories indicate that this new strain of Corona is spreading rapidly in the South African province and may have already spread to eight other South African provinces.
The daily case statistics for South Africa released by the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) reported 2465 new cases, almost double the number a day earlier.
The NICD did not link the new wave to a new species of corona, but some local scientists believe that is the reason.
South Africa has confirmed 100 cases of the new type and it was thought that B1.1,529 was behind 90% of the new cases in Gotting, while the type has reached Botswana, Hong Kong and Israel.
In Hong Kong, it was confirmed by two people, one of whom came from South Africa, and transferred it to the person next to his hotel room.
How to compare with other types?
On the evening of November 25, senior scientists called B1.1.529 the worst type of corona since the onset of the epidemic, with 32 mutations in the spike protein.
Spike protein is the part of the virus against which most vaccines are used to stimulate the immune system.
This number of mutations is more than double that of the Delta type, and changes in the spike protein can affect the ability of virus cells to infect and spread, but also make it harder for immune cells to invade germs.
The Delta species was first discovered in India in late 2020, which is now the dominant species in the world, and has led to an increase in cases and deaths.
Other strains, including Alpha (first discovered in the UK), Beta (first discovered in South Africa) and Gemma (first discovered in Brazil), indicate that the virus species is constantly evolving.
What will be the effects?
It is too early to say, but scientists are constantly working to understand this new species.
Since it came to light recently, scientists have no evidence that it is contagious or that it is invading the immune system.
But there are fears that if the new strain is allowed to spread, it could lead to the imposition of new sanctions in different parts of the world.
WHO response
The World Health Organization (WHO) is holding a meeting of experts on B1.1.529 in Geneva on November 26 to discuss this new type of analysis and decide whether to declare it a variant of interest or a concern.
A spokesman for the World Health Organization said that at this stage, travel restrictions were being imposed by various countries, and the WHO suggested that countries adopt a scientific approach to such measures.
He said it could take several weeks for the new vaccine to be contagious and the effectiveness of vaccines against it to be determined. So far, 100 such cases have been reported.
The spokesman said that people should use face masks as much as possible, avoid large gatherings, take good care of good ventilation inside the walls and keep their hands clean.
