New, heavily mutated COVID-19 variant confirmed in Belgium

New, heavily mutated COVID-19 variant confirmed in Belgium

ANIUpdated: Friday, November 26, 2021, 09:19 PM IST
article-image

A new COVID-19 variant known as B.1.1.529 has been confirmed in Belgium, Belgian Minister of Health and Social Affairs Franck Vandenbroucke said on Friday.

Two suspect samples were being analyzed, according to Belgian virologist Marc Van Ranst of the Catholic University of Louvain. One sample was confirmed as the novel B.1.1.529, the virologist tweeted on Friday.

The new variant first detected in South Africa features "unusual" alterations that are concerning since they may let it evade the immune system and become more transmissible.

Belgium decided on Friday to suspend flights from the southern African region, following a proposal from the European Commission. Belgian travellers returning from South Africa and other nearby countries must adhere to a ten-day quarantine.

Several European countries, notably the United Kingdom, Germany and Italy, have already decided to close their borders to the region.

RECENT STORIES

VIDEO: PM Modi Conferred Brazil’s Highest Civilian Honour For Strengthening Bilateral Ties

VIDEO: PM Modi Conferred Brazil’s Highest Civilian Honour For Strengthening Bilateral Ties

'There Will Be No Change’: US President Donald Trump Says August 1 Tariff Deadline Won’t Be...

'There Will Be No Change’: US President Donald Trump Says August 1 Tariff Deadline Won’t Be...

Who Is Nimisha Priya? Indian Nurse To Be Executed On July 16 For Killing Yemeni National

Who Is Nimisha Priya? Indian Nurse To Be Executed On July 16 For Killing Yemeni National

'Disrupting Operation Entirely Unacceptable': Germany Claims China Targeted Its Aircraft With Laser...

'Disrupting Operation Entirely Unacceptable': Germany Claims China Targeted Its Aircraft With Laser...

Italy Airport Scare: Man Dies After Getting Sucked Into Plane Engine At Milan Airport (VIDEO)

Italy Airport Scare: Man Dies After Getting Sucked Into Plane Engine At Milan Airport (VIDEO)