In a media interview, Javed explained: “What we do know is that there are a lot of people Mutations, And there may be twice as many mutations in the delta variation as we have seen. “

“This indicates that it is highly contagious and that current vaccines are less effective,” he said.

Public health officials in the UK have recently expressed serious concern about the mutation that has spread to South Africa because it has twice as many mutations as the highly contagious “delta” strain, including mutations related to immunosuppression.

The British Health Security Agency said the strain, called “B1.1.529”, was completely different from the so-called “spike protein”. Corona virus Original, designed to be resistant to any vaccines.

The new strain has mutations that prevent the immune response as a result of both previous infection and vaccination, as well as mutations associated with increased infection.

The scientists said laboratory studies were needed to assess the possibility of a significant reduction in the efficiency of the mutations. Vaccines.

Earlier on Thursday, scientists South Africa They have discovered a new strain of corona in small numbers and are working to understand its potential consequences.

Scientists told a news conference that the strain had “very unusual” mutations, which could cause the body’s immune response to override and spread.

The new mutant was also found in Botswana and Hong Kong.

The British Health Security Agency says no such virus has been found in Britain and that its scientists are contacting their colleagues in South Africa to view their data.