The coronavirus mutation previously discovered in South Africa worries the US more than the British coronavirus. This was stated by US infectious disease specialist Anthony Fauci. His words are quoted by RIA Novosti.
“The South African (strain) is more worrisome,” Fauci said.
According to him, the “more contagious” British coronavirus has been registered in more than 20 states, but not a single case of South African coronavirus in the United States has yet been reported. “At the moment it seems that vaccines will be effective against them, with the caveat that you need to monitor this carefully,” concluded Fauci.
In January, Pfizer and researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch said the vaccine remains effective against the N501Y mutation in coronavirus strains found in the UK and South Africa.
Earlier, the virologist of the Gamaleya Center, Viktor Zuev, explained that the South African COVID-19 mutation is no more dangerous than the usual strain. However, it is more contagious, which means that an infected person can transmit the infection to more people.
A new mutation of the coronavirus was discovered in South Africa on December 18. Scientists have identified a previously unknown species of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the country. The South African Minister of Health emphasized that the second wave of coronavirus in the country is probably associated with this particular mutation of the disease.
