'32 Mutations Alone' New Supervariant Emergency, WHO Special Meeting and UK Flight Suspensions

WHO convenes emergency meeting on 26th
Decision on concern variant status
32 mutations in spike protein
Rapid transmissibility and vaccine evasion concerns
UK suspends flights from 6 African countries
Israel bans travel from 7 countries

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] The World Health Organization (WHO) has convened a special meeting following reports of a variant virus more powerful than the Delta variant. This variant, which carries 32 mutations, is raising concerns due to its high transmissibility and potential to evade vaccines. The UK and Israel have consecutively imposed entry and travel restrictions on African countries where the new variant was discovered.

According to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) on the 25th (local time), the WHO will hold a special meeting on the 26th to decide whether to classify the Nu (Nu·B.1.1.529) variant as a variant of interest or a variant of concern. So far, variants of concern have included the UK-origin Alpha, South Africa-origin Beta, Brazil-origin Gamma, and India-origin Delta variants.

During the meeting, the WHO plans to examine whether the Nu variant can evade vaccines or treatments. The Nu variant carries 32 genetic mutations in the spike protein. Since the virus uses the spike protein to penetrate host cells, mutations in the spike protein can alter transmissibility.

Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO's technical lead on COVID-19, stated, "We still know little about this variant other than that it has many mutations," adding, "A high number of mutations can affect how the virus functions."

The UK and Israel have decided to ban entry from South Africa and other African countries due to the spread of the Nu variant. The UK will ban flights arriving from South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, and Eswatini starting at 12 PM on the 26th. Israel has also designated seven African countries?South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia, and Eswatini?as travel ban countries.