The variant, named, A.23.1, originally emerged in Uganda and Rwanda late last year, and is now the dominant variant in these two countries, de Oliveira told Health24. As of today, it has been identified in 17 other countries, including the UK, Canada, the US, and South Africa, he said. However, de Oliveira stressed that A.23.1 is not a variant of concern (VoC), but a variant of interest. They are 501Y.V1, first identified in the UK; 501Y.V2 first identified in South Africa; and 501Y.V3, first identified in Japan and travellers from Brazil. However, he added that it will likely be responsible for a minority of infections in South Africa.

Source: News 24 March 02, 2021 03:11 UTC