A new super mutant Covid variant that has sparked fears of another lockdown in the UK may have emerged in a HIV patient in Africa, is the most-evolved version yet and could make jabs much weaker.
Scientists believe that its extensive mutations mean it must have originated in a severely immunocompromised patient, possibly an undiagnosed person with AIDS.
It has more than 30 mutations, giving it all the transmissibility of the currently-dominant Delta strain and the same ability to escape vaccines as the old South African variant Beta.
Experts fear the new variant — called B.1.1.529 — will make the vaccines at least 40 per cent less effective, because it is so well equipped to dodge the protection they provide.
Britons have been put on alert that there could be a Christmas lockdown, with one of No10’s vaccine advisers warning ‘we all need to be ready’ for restrictions to be reimposed.
Here is everything we know about the variant so far:
What is so concerning about the variant?
Not much is known yet about the new strain, but the number of mutations it carries has alarmed scientists.
The variant has more than 30 mutations — twice as many as the currently dominant Delta strain.
Lots of the changes are centred on the spike protein. This protein is what the current crop of Covid vaccines trigger the body to respond to, so it can recognise and fight off the virus if it comes into contact with it.
Experts fear the changes could make the vaccines 40 per cent less effective in a best-case scenario, because the new version of the virus is better at dodging the protection they provide.
It also includes mutations that allow it to spread more easily.
One scientist said it was the worst variant they have seen so far.
Experts warn they won’t know how much more infectious the virus is for at least two weeks and may not know its impact on Covid hospitalisations and deaths for up to six weeks.
Will it affect
