LONDON, Nov 25 (Reuters) - A newly identified coronavirus
variant that has spread in South Africa is the most concerning
that British health officials have seen as it has double the
number of mutations of the Delta variant including some
associated with evading immune response.
The UK Health Security Agency said that the variant - called
B.1.1.529 - has a spike protein that was dramatically different
to the one in the original coronavirus that COVID-19 vaccines
are based on.
It has mutations that are likely to evade the immune
response generated both by prior infection and vaccination, and
also mutations associated with increased infectivity.
(Reporting by Alistair Smout
Editing by William Schomberg)