Prime

South African scientists detect new Covid ‘super-variant’

South Africa Covid test

A nurse in Richmond, Johannesburg, takes a mouth swab for Covid-19 testing. South African scientists sequencing the genetic profile of Covid-19 have detected a new ‘super-variant’ with multiple mutations. PHOTO | LUCA SOLA | AFP

By  CHRIS ERASMUS

South African scientists sequencing the genetic profile of Covid-19 have detected a new ‘super-variant’ with multiple mutations.

Evidence so far shows it may be more infectious than the Delta variant that has spread around the world.

Related

Be the First to Know

Get the stories shaping East Africa — delivered straight to your inbox

Conflict

  1. Explainer: Why new war in Ethiopia’s Tigray threatens to trigger wider conflict

  2. Ethiopia, Sudan junta bicker again over RSF support claims

  3. East Africa’s oil rivalry is missing the bigger energy security question

  4. PRIME Why US proposal to expand Sudan arms embargo is stirring debate

Latest

  1. PRIME Scramble on for $62bn rare earths, niobium in Kenya’s Mrima Hill

  2. Explainer: Why new war in Ethiopia’s Tigray threatens to trigger wider conflict

  3. PRIME Dar port maintains lead against peers in efficiency

  4. PRIME Cereal disruption: Why wheat imports from Russia, Ukraine just got more costly

In the headlines

View All