Digital Desk: Although Omicron proved to be a fast-spreading but generally a non-lethal variation of covid-19, a more lethal strain of the virus - NeoCov - has recently been discovered in South Africa. NeoCov has a high death rate and high transmission rate, according to scientists from China’s Wuhan lab.
The NeoCov virus is linked to the MERS-CoV virus, which was detected in Middle Eastern countries in 2012-15, as per a report by Russian news agency Sputnik.
Scientists in China determined that the NeoCov version of coronavirus detected in bats in South Africa is a relative of MERS fever, which has symptoms and effects similar to SARS CoV-2, according to Russian news agency TASS.
The study also said that the Chinese experts have determined that the mortality rate in the NeoCov virus is exceptionally high - ‘one in every three infected persons’.
“The Vector Research Center is aware of the NeoCoV coronavirus data obtained by Chinese researchers. The issue at the time isn’t the introduction of a new coronavirus capable of actively propagating among humans.” according to a statement from the Russian State Virology and Biotechnology Research Center.
It’s worth noting that the new covid variant Omicron was discovered first in Africa. It was previously regarded as a cause of concern, researchers have found that, despite its rapid spread, it has not resulted in an increase in hospitalizations and has a low mortality rate which is due to the increase in the vaccination campaign in the country, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
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