• A new coronavirus mutation was discovered in South Africa, where a version called 501.V2 seems to be fueling the second wave of COVID-19 in the nation.
• The new strain seems to be more dangerous, causing more severe illness in younger patients who do not suffer from other medical conditions.
• Health experts believe the new SARS-CoV-2 strain can still be defeated with the current vaccines.
• https://bgr.com/2020/12/19/coronavirus-mutation-south-africa-501-v2/ - https://bgr.com/2020/12/19/coronavirus-mutation-south-africa-501-v2/

DJ

From [url]https://flutrackers.com/forum/forum/africa-ac/africa-covid-19-sept-13-2020-may-31-2021/901816-new-covid-19-variant-identified-in-sa-south-africa#post901917[/url] or https://flutrackers.com/forum/forum/africa-ac/africa-covid-19-sept-13-2020-may-31-2021/901816-new-covid-19-variant-identified-in-sa-south-africa#post901917 - https://flutrackers.com/forum/forum/africa-ac/africa-covid-19-sept-13-2020-may-31-2021/901816-new-covid-19-variant-identified-in-sa-south-africa#post901917 ;

Is the new UK variant the same as the new South African variant (501Y.V2)?

No.

They both share the same mutation in spike: N501Y (N->Y at position 501). However, the 2 variants have arisen separately.

(DJ-Earliest report from this thread are dec 18-11.09PM (UK-Time ?) so it is in itself a new story-earliest cases showed up "a few months ago"-indicating it may be widespread. Given international airtravel did not stop the UK variant may have influenced the SA form or the other way round. But it may have been completely separated developments.) 

-In South Africa it is now summer, also SA has a much younger population. 

In the tree below, the UK variant is in green at the top.

The SA variant is the one with large yellow circles nearer the bottom.

Though it's a bit hard to see in this tree, they are quite distant genetically: they have many mutations they do not share!

...
UK variant & SA variant both have many other mutations that are being investigated.

https://twitter.com/firefoxx66/status/1340359989395861506" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(35, 121, 181); text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); - https://twitter.com/firefoxx66/statu...59989395861506

DJ-Both "variants" spread faster...SA=501.V2 Variant-

see also [url]https://nextstrain.org/groups/neherlab/ncov/S.N501?c=gt-S_501,69&p=grid&r=country[/url] or  https://nextstrain.org/groups/neherlab/ncov/S.N501?c=gt-S_501,69&p=grid&r=country - https://nextstrain.org/groups/neherlab/ncov/S.N501?c=gt-S_501,69&p=grid&r=country  to get a glimpse of the multitude of "variations"already existing...

Everyone talks about a 'second wave', but there is no rule which says there has to be a second wave, or one that says there can't be a third, fourth, or fifth wave.  

Viruses mutate.   The more hosts a virus has, the more mutations it gets a chance to develop.  This is so basic, I can't even call it virology.

This virus has many hosts - and many types of host (us, cats, mink, etc.).  

The usual path of a virus, is to mutate to be both more contagious and less lethal (as this then enables further spread).  But there is no guarantee this will be the path taken.  Because it is completely random, the next mutation could be anything.

Luckily  for  us,  this is a coronavirus - and they are slow to mutate by some viral standards.

Unluckily for us, this is a coronavirus - and they have some really nasty strains already (original SARS and MERS for example).

The bottom line is always the same, the more hosts the more risk.  Every case in the world increases the risk to YOU by a minute amount.  That is why the whole world need to be vaccinated ASAP, not just the rich among us in rich countries.  

The WHO told the truth for once:  "No one is safe, until everyone is safe."

Thanks DJ for the Twitter link! Just followed her, and shared the thread. 

The Guardian: South African Covid-19 variant has reached the UK, says Matt Hancock.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/23/south-african-covid-19-variant-has-reached-the-uk-says-matt-hancock - https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/23/south-african-covid-19-variant-has-reached-the-uk-says-matt-hancock