The Nu variant which we discussed earlier well before the NY Times took notice, presents a clear and present danger. I have examined the spike protein and it may be a much more aggressive version. As the BBC notes:
UK Health Secretary Sajid Javid said from 12:00 GMT on Friday six countries would be added to the red list, with flights being temporarily banned.One expert described the variant, known as B.1.1.529, as "the worst one we've seen so far", and there is concern it has the potential to evade immunity.No cases have been confirmed in the UK.Only 59 confirmed cases have been identified in South Africa, Hong Kong and Botswana so far.
The cases have exploded in just a few hours. They continue:
It is the most heavily mutated variant so far and is now radically different to the form that emerged in Wuhan, China.That means vaccines, which were designed using the original, may not be as effective. And some of its mutations are known to increase the ability of coronaviruses to spread. But there have been many variants that looked bad on paper before, but haven't taken off. There are early signs this virus is spreading in South Africa and may already be in every province in the country.
As such it may readily "leak" into the US via the open southern border. It spreads like wild fire and can during the winter season take over from Delta. They continue:
Scientists say the variant has 50 mutations overall and more than 30 on the spike protein, which is the target of most vaccines and the key the virus uses to unlock the doorway into our body's cells. Experts in South Africa have said the variant is "very different" to others that have circulated, with concerns that it could be more transmissible but also able to get around parts of the immune system.
We showed this earlier today. Thusfar there has been no response from the CDC and the NIH. It appears the CDC has taken a four day holiday! We know what happened last time when these bumblers saw the first locomotive coming on the tracks. This, folks, is a real problem, especially as we see the massive increases in vaccinated people.
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