Virologist Prof Tulio de Oliveira has played down concerns after South Africa identified its first case of a Covid infection caused by the new highly transmissible XBB. 1.5 mutation.
The case was detected on Friday by Stellenbosch University. It has been described by the World Health Organisation as “the most transmissible sub-variant” found so far in the pandemic.
De Oliveira, head of a gene-sequencing institute at Stellenbosch University, says they are alert but not concerned when it comes to the XBB. 1.5 mutation.
“Firstly you must understand it is not a new variant as people are saying; it is still part of the Omicron family. It is a mutation,” De Oliveira told the Sunday Times.
“We do not expect serious repercussions in South Africa. This is due to the high percentage of our population that is immunised.
"We are talking of more than 95% of South Africa — whether through vaccinations or previous infections. It is likely that our wall of immunisation is strong enough to protect us.
“If we have a wave it will most likely be comparable to the one we had last year in May. There were lots of infections but because the hospitalisation and death rates were low, most South Africans did not even notice the wave.”
De Oliveira said vaccination was key.
“If someone close to you has comorbidities or is frail, the answer is still vaccination. We have 19-million doses available in South Africa at present.”
Nicknamed the “kraken variant” by some for its ability to spread, there have been no significant differences so far in severity between cases caused by XBB. 1.5 and other variants.
The WHO plans an updated assessment on the mutation’s risks in the coming days.
XBB. 1.5 has quickly become the dominant strain in the US and has been detected in at least 28 other countries, according to the WHO.
“XBB. 1.5 is now the dominant strain in New York where it accounts for 75% of infections, while it is 20% in the rest of the US,” De Oliveira said.
“It’s yet to be identified in China, which is undergoing a surge in infections after relaxing strict controls that limited the effect of previous waves of Covid-19 in the country.”
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