Mosialos – What we know so far about the “Botswana mutation”

The new variant of the coronavirus found in Africa is the most worrying that British health professionals have seen, as it has twice the number of mutations compared to the Delta…

Professor Elias Mosialos refers to this new dangerous mutation, answering 10 key questions about what we know so far about its appearance, which has caused concern in the scientific community.

Mr. Mosialos lists the data so far, emphasizing that "continuous epidemiological surveillance is needed" and noting that panic should be avoided until we have more information.

As the professor states:

"There is concern internationally about the new variant of the coronavirus, which is called the Botswana variant until it is renamed and given a Greek letter. Of course, it is wrong to call it the Botswana variant, because although its existence was identified in Botswana, the variation may have started in another African country.

I had already pointed out from the beginning of the pandemic that if we do not have mass vaccination of the vast majority of the world's population, the possibility of new variants, especially in areas with low vaccination rates, will be high. Unfortunately, in Africa only 6.5% of the population is fully vaccinated.

1. What we know so far about this variant

We initially had 4 cases in Botswana among vaccinated people. This does not mean that there are no more cases among both vaccinated and unvaccinated. It is also not true what the international media wrote that the 4 cases concerned HIV patients. The National Commission for the Treatment of Covid-19 disease in Botswana denied this in a statement. There are also several cases in South Africa and one in Hong Kong involving a traveler from South Africa.

2. But why are health...