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South Africa coronavirus variant: What is the risk? Beta coronavirus variant: What is the risk?
(4 months later)
The "largest surge testing operation to date" is beginning in south London to hunt for any new cases of Covid caused by the South African variant. Fully jabbed travellers arriving in the UK from France have to quarantine, because of the Beta variant.
Some 44 cases have already been confirmed in Wandsworth and Lambeth, along with 30 probable ones. The government is concerned jabs may not work as well against the variant.
Experts say that this variant of concern - along with a few others - may be able to get round some of the protection offered by vaccines or previous Covid infection, although existing jabs should still work to stop severe illness. French authorities say most cases are from the overseas territories of La Reunion and Mayotte, rather than mainland France.
A real-world data study in Israel - not yet peer-reviewed - found some people who had been fully vaccinated against Covid still caught the South Africa variant. How have summer holiday rules changed?
What is the South Africa variant? Your travel guide to seven Mediterranean countries
What is the Beta variant?
Beta, also known as 501.V2 or B.1.351, has some significant genetic changes that experts are studying. It was first identified in South Africa.
All viruses, including the one that causes Covid-19, constantly mutate into new versions or variants.All viruses, including the one that causes Covid-19, constantly mutate into new versions or variants.
These tiny genetic changes happen as the virus makes new copies of itself to spread and thrive.These tiny genetic changes happen as the virus makes new copies of itself to spread and thrive.
South Africa variant found in Hampshire village
How worrying are the Covid variants?
Most are inconsequential, and a few can even be harmful to the virus's survival, but some variants can make the virus more infectious or threatening to the host - humans.Most are inconsequential, and a few can even be harmful to the virus's survival, but some variants can make the virus more infectious or threatening to the host - humans.
The South African variant, also known as 501.V2 or B.1.351, has some significant changes that experts are studying. How worrying are the Covid variants?
Is it more dangerous?Is it more dangerous?
Some of the changes involve the virus's spike protein - the part that gains the virus entry into human cells. It is also the bit that vaccines are designed around, which is why experts are concerned about these particular mutations. Some of the changes Beta has undergone involve the virus's spike protein - the part that gains the virus entry into human cells. It is also the bit that vaccines are designed around, which is why experts are concerned about these particular mutations.
The South African variant carries a mutation, called N501Y, that appears to make it more contagious or easy to spread. Beta, along with a few other variants of coronavirus, such as Delta and Alpha, have been labelled "variants of concern". These have some worrying changes experts want to keep a very close eye on.
Another mutation, called E484K, could help the virus dodge a person's immune system and may affect how well coronavirus vaccines work. Beta carries a mutation, called N501Y, which appears to make it more contagious or easy to spread.
There is no evidence that the South Africa variant causes more serious illness for the vast majority of people who become infected. Another mutation, called E484K, could help the virus dodge a person's immune system, and may affect how well vaccines work.
As with the original version, the risk is highest for people who are elderly or have significant underlying health conditions. There is no evidence that the South Africa variant causes more serious illness for the vast majority of people.
But there are concerns it can spread more readily and vaccines may not work quite as well against it. As with the original version, the risk is still highest for elderly people and those with significant underlying health conditions.
Do vaccines work against the South Africa variant?
Current vaccines are designed around original Covid, but should still offer some protection against new variants.
It is too soon to know exactly how much protection they give, until more tests are completed, although it is extremely unlikely the mutations would render vaccines useless.
What are the new UK travel rules?
When will I get a Covid vaccine?When will I get a Covid vaccine?
How do I know the Covid vaccine is safe? Which children are being vaccinated and why?
Trials of Novavax, Janssen and the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccines in South Africa, where B.1.351 is circulating, suggest the variant can escape some immunity and may not stop infections. How good are vaccines?
But experts say vaccines should still offer protection against severe and life-threatening Covid-19 illness. Vaccines are designed around original Covid, rather than new variants.
Results from Moderna suggest its shot is still effective against the South Africa variant, although the immune response may not be as strong or prolonged. There is some evidence they are less effective at stopping Beta infections.
But experts say they should still work to stop severe illness.
Trials of Novavax, Janssen and the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccines in South Africa suggest the variant can overcome some built-up immunity
Another study, also in South Africa, found the AstraZeneca vaccine was only 10% effective against mild-to-moderate Beta infections
A real-world data study in Israel - not yet peer-reviewed - found some people who received the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine still caught Beta
Lab results from Moderna suggest its shot works against the South Africa variant, although the immune response may not be as strong or prolonged
Data on Moderna use in Qatar suggests two doses is more than 96% effective against symptomatic Covid caused by Beta
Data from the Pfizer rollout in Qatar, suggests immunisation is 97% effective at stopping severe cases of Beta
Even in the worst case scenario, vaccines can be redesigned and tweaked to provide a better match in a matter or weeks or months, if necessary.Even in the worst case scenario, vaccines can be redesigned and tweaked to provide a better match in a matter or weeks or months, if necessary.
A trial of a new version of the AstraZeneca vaccine, designed against Beta, has begun in the UK.
Some of the other Covid vaccines are also being updated.
How far has it spread?How far has it spread?
It is already the dominant virus variant in the Eastern and Western Cape provinces of South Africa. The Beta variant has been identified in more than 50 countries around the world.
At least 20 other countries including Austria, Norway and Japan, have also found cases. So far, the UK has recorded just over 1,000 cases of Beta. That's a tiny fraction of all Covid cases. Another variant, called Delta, currently makes up more than 99% of Covid seen in the UK.
In the UK, 533 cases of the variant have been found and there is extra testing happening in affected areas to stop the spread. South Africa has reported higher cases of Beta.
Covid map: Where are cases the highest?
What is the UK doing about it?What is the UK doing about it?
Travel is now banned from many countries in southern Africa, as well as Tanzania and Democratic Republic of Congo. When it was first identified in the UK, the government recommended surge testing in the community in some regions to help stop the spread.
Targeted testing in the community is also taking place in some parts of the country. A system of foreign travel restrictions has also been introduced to minimise the chance of UK travellers spreading Beta as well as other variants of concern.
Scientists are also working to update existing vaccines to make them a better match for variants, such as the South Africa one. Although adults who were fully jabbed in the UK now no longer need to quarantine on return from amber list countries, double vaccinated travellers returning to England and Wales from France will still have to self-isolate for ten days.
Prof James Naismith, Director of the Rosaline Franklin Institute, said: "If the South Africa variant has really taken off, and we will probably know in about two to three weeks, then we may need to pause reopening a little bit." They will also have to take two PCR tests to ensure they are not infectious.
UK scientists are tracking variants, including Beta, to learn more and are providing genomic sequencing help to other countries so that they can do the same.