Scientists have discovered a “highly divergent” Covid strain which needs “urgent investigation”, new research claims.
A team of experts have uncovered a variant in Africa which has transformed 34 times, a medical article says.
And it has been found that, among those changes, 14 are in the spike protein – the part which gets into human cells and causes illness.
Three cases of the new “highly divergent” variant were discovered in people who landed in Angola from Tanzania in mid-February.
Both countries have been on Britain’s travel ‘red list’ since January.
According to a new research paper, the apparent new variant contains the E484K change which can help the virus overcome antibodies.
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Scientists have warned previously that a new mutation could spread rapidly worldwide and even affect young people.
The new strain, called A.VOI.V2 and designated as a variant of interest (VOI), should now be probed immediately, the paper, which has not been peer-reviewed, said.
In comparison, the Brazilian variant has mutated 18 times and the UK variant has transformed 17 times.
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The paper reads: “While we have only detected three cases with this new VOI, this warrants urgent investigation as the source country has a largely undocumented epidemic and few public health measures in place to prevent spread within and out of the country.”
It adds that the group of experts behind the study decided to label the new variant as a VOI as it has mutations known to neutralise antibodies and potentially be more transmissible.
Tanzania has had a troubled relationship with coronavirus, with it rumoured that the country’s president died from the disease last month.
John Magafuli, 61, passed away from heart complications in hospital, a state address said.
But opposition politicians claimed he had contracted coronavirus after he disappeared from public life.
Mr Magafuli was a prominent coronavirus sceptic and urged his country’s population to use prayers and herbal remedies to beat the virus.
He even declared Tanzania free from the disease last June, cast doubt on the usefulness of masks and raised doubts about testing.
“Coronavirus, which is a devil, cannot survive in the body of Christ… It will burn instantly,” Mr Magafuli said, reports the BBC.
The country has also recorded just 509 cases and 21 deaths in total, with it feared officials are concealing the true nature of the pandemic.
Dr Tony Lockett, from King’s College London’s Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, previously told The Sun about how new mutations could spread worldwide.
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He said: “The effect – well it could be devastating – much worse than the original as younger people could become sicker and those who have had the virus get reinfected with the new strain
“Its really very scary.”
Outbreaks in other countries around the world, such as Brazil and India, have been causing concern for scientists – with it feared it could slow down the march towards freedom.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson cancelled a long-planned trip to India earlier this week as the country is currently recording more than 200,000 cases daily.