One of South Africa’s leading virus experts, Prof. Tulio de Oliveira, has made a plea to billionaires and financial institutions to support South Africa to help control the newly discovered Covid-19 variant so it does not spread to the rest of the world.
De Oliveira, who is the Director of the Centre for Epidemic Response & Innovation says this new variant is really worrisome at the mutational level. He says South Africa and Africa will need support (financially, public health, scientific).
I would like to plea to all billionaires in this world @elonmusk @BillGates @JeffBezos @DrPatSoonShiong @WarrenBuffett to support Africa & South Africa financially to control and extinguish variants! By protecting its poor and oppressed population we will protect the world.
— Tulio de Oliveira (@Tuliodna) November 25, 2021
The new variant, which is currently known as B.1.1.529, was detected earlier this week, following genomic sequencing collaborations between the NICD and private laboratories.
There is concern that this variant, which has many mutations, will be more transmissible and may evade immunity.
De Oliveira says there is still time to control it by avoiding super spreader events and adhering to all health protocols. He says despite the worrying nature of this variant, vaccination remains the key tool to prevent severe disease from the virus.
Busy day on B.1.1.529 – a variant of great concern – The world should provide support to South Africa and Africa and not discriminate or isolate it! By protecting and supporting it, we will protect the world! A plea for billionaires and financial institutions. 1/8 tweets
— Tulio de Oliveira (@Tuliodna) November 25, 2021
This new variant is really worrisome at the mutational level. South Africa and Africa will need support (financially, public health, scientific) to control it so it does not spread in the world. Our poor and deprived population can not be in lockdown without financial support. pic.twitter.com/CeJIXudUIA
— Tulio de Oliveira (@Tuliodna) November 25, 2021
This new variant, B.1.1.529 seems to spread very quick! In less than 2 weeks now dominates all infections following a devastating Delta wave in South Africa (Blue new variant, now at 75% of last genomes and soon to reach 100%) pic.twitter.com/Z9mde45Qe0
— Tulio de Oliveira (@Tuliodna) November 25, 2021
[Thread] What is the potential impact of the new B.1.1.529 #COVID19 variant? @rjlessells:
1. It's relatively simple to detect some B.1.1.529 cases, as it's possible to use PCR tests to do this in some cases
2. B.1.1.529 = has many mutations across different parts of the virus pic.twitter.com/ytktqLzJUi— Mia Malan (@miamalan) November 25, 2021
