[News] New Botswana variant with 32 ‘horrific’ mutations is the most evolved Covid strain ever and could be ‘worse than Delta’ – Experts warn

Experts have warned that a new Covid variant believed to have emerged in Botswana is the most evolved Covid strain ever and could be ‘worse than the Delta variant.

According to reports, only 10 cases of the strain, which could eventually be named ‘Nu’, have been detected so far. But it has already been spotted in three countries.

It carries 32 mutations, many of which suggest it is highly transmissible and vaccine-resistant and has more alterations to its spike protein than any other variant.

Professor Francois Balloux, a geneticist at University College London, said it likely emerged in a lingering infection in an immunocompromised patient, possibly someone with undiagnosed AIDS.

Changes to the spike make it difficult for current jabs to fight off because they train the immune system to recognise an older version of this part of the virus.

Dr. Tom Peacock, a virologist at Imperial College who first picked up on its spread, described the variant’s combination of mutations as ‘horrific’.

He warned that B.1.1.529, its scientific name, had the potential to be ‘worse than nearly anything else about’  including the world-dominant Delta strain.

Scientists told MailOnline, however, that its unprecedented number of mutations might work against it and make it ‘unstable’, preventing it from becoming widespread.

They said there was ‘no need to be overly concerned’ because there were no signs yet that it was spreading rapidly.

Three infections have been detected in Botswana to date and six in South Africa, where variant surveillance is more robust.

One case has also been spotted in a 36-year-old man in Hong Kong who recently returned from the continent.

There are no cases in Britain. But the UK Health Security Agency, which took over from Public Health England, said it was monitoring the situation closely.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said the variant was ‘not seen as something that is an issue for the UK at present.

Professor Francois Balloux, a geneticist at University College London, said it was likely the variant would be much more able to dodge antibodies than Delta.

He told MailOnline: ‘For the time being, it should be closely monitored. But there’s no need to be overly concerned, unless it starts going up in frequency.’

He said its many mutations suggested it could have emerged during a lingering infection in an immunocompromised person, such as an AIDS patient.

In patients with weakened immune systems infections can linger for months because the body is unable to fight it off.

This gives the virus time to acquire mutations that allow it to get around the body’s defences.