Genomic analysis of the new coronavirus has found 16 new variants in South Africa

Genomic epidemiology can be used to understand the evolution of new coronavirus and track global transmission.
Researchers Hollia Tagri, Turio de Oliveira and colleagues at KwaZulu-Natal University in South Africa analyzed nearly the entire genome of 1,365 new coronavirus collected in the six months before the outbreak in South Africa and found 16 new variants.
team believes that most of these variants have unique variants not previously found elsewhere, with three variants B.1.1.54, B.1.1.56 and C.1 spreading widely in the first wave of outbreaks in South Africa, triggering about 42 percent of infections nationwide at the time.
C-series variant C.1 is the most geographically distributed species in South Africa as of the end of August 2020.
findings shed light on the spread of the new coronavirus throughout South Africa between 6 March and 26 August 2020.
concluded that this genomic monitoring tool could be used on a large scale in Africa to identify new variants of the new coronavirus and to provide information to control the spread of the virus.
it is important to note that this genomic monitoring is essential for the discovery of variants of 501Y.V2.
501Y. The V2 mutant was first discovered in South Africa in mid-October last year and has been a major local strain since early November 2020.
news comes after news that the new strain 501Y.V2 has exacerbated the new crown outbreak, with up to 90 per cent of new cases in South Africa's second wave late last year.
South African scientist Richard Lesser believes the mutant strain is more propagated than the new strain in the UK and has a greater impact on young people, the Guardian reported earlier.
world health organization experts also believe that the South African mutant's propagation and pathogenicity need to be further studied.