NeoCov: New Variant of Virus Detected in South Africa, Death Rate Much Higher

Omicron may have spread rapidly, but remained less lethal than COVID-19. But now a more lethal variant of the virus, NeoCov has been detected in South Africa.

Omicron may have spread rapidly, but remained less lethal than COVID-19. But now a more lethal variant of the virus, NeoCov has been detected in South Africa. Scientists from China's Wuhan Lab have reportedly warned that the death rate and infection rate of NeoCov is much higher. According to a report by Russian news agency Sputnik, the NeoCov virus is linked to the MERS-CoV virus that was discovered in the Middle-Eastern countries in 2012-15.

NeoCoV virus has a very high mortality rate

According to the Russian agency TASS, scientists in China found that the NeoCov version of the coronavirus found in bats in South Africa is a relative of MERS fever with symptoms and effects similar to SARS CoV-2. The report also said that Chinese researchers have found that the NeoCoV virus has a very high mortality rate - 'one out of every three infected individuals will die’.

NeoCoV has not yet spread to humans

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It is a matter of relief that the new variant of coronavirus, NeoCoV has not yet spread to humans. The Russian State Virology and Biotechnology Research Center said in a statement, 'The Vector Research Center is aware of the data obtained by Chinese researchers on the NeoCoV coronavirus. In South Africa, this NioCoV virus has been seen inside bats and it has only been seen in animals so far.

Omicron remains less lethal

It is worth noting that the Omicron variant of COVID-19 was also first detected in Africa. Although it was initially seen as a type of anxiety, later researchers have observed that it is spreading rapidly. There were fewer hospitalization of patients and the mortality rate was also low. The World Health Organization (WHO) has also emphasized that increased immunization has reduced mortality and hospitalizations from Omicron.