The WHO is holding an emergency meeting today a new strain of coronavirus discovered in Africa, which may have an increased number of mutations, the British "Financial Times" reported.

Tulio de Oliveira, director of the Center for Epidemic Response and Innovation in South Africa, conveyed to WHO officials his concern about the new strain of coronavirus B.1.1.529, which is feared to be the worst-known variant of the virus.

"The WHO then decided to hold an emergency meeting," De Oliveira told the Financial Times.

WHO experts will reportedly discuss whether the new species should be defined as something of "concern" or as an "interest" variant.

During yesterday's press conference, Tulio de Oliveira said that the new strain has a very large number of mutations, which carries the risk of rapidly spreading the disease. According to the latest data, this new variant of the coronavirus in the Republic of South Africa has been diagnosed in a total of 77 people.

The new strain was also diagnosed in four people in Botswana and one in Hong Kong (a person who came from South Africa).

Some world leaders reacted immediately to the news of the new strain, announcing new precautions and travel restrictions, while stock markets around the world fell due to uncertainty.

Dr. Maria Van Kerkove, WHO technical leader for Covid-19, told a news conference yesterday that not much is known about this variant.

- What we do know is that this variant has a large number of mutations. "And the concern is that when you have so many mutations, it can affect how the virus behaves," Van Kerkov said.

She added that researchers would meet to "understand where these mutations are located and what they could potentially mean" as to whether they are more transmissible or have the potential to circumvent immunity.

Source: MIA