An intensive information gathering undertaking is underway by the Department of Health following the recent detection of a highly transmissible variant of COVID-19, nicknamed ‘the kraken’.
According to the head of the University of Stellenbosch gene-sequencing institute, Professor Tulio de Oliveira, a gene-sequencing carried out from a December 27 sample brought to the fore confirmation of the discovery of the variant in the Western Cape.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) further confirmed the detection of a sub-variant called XBB.1.5 in 28 countries, with the strain being more dominant in the United States.
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The newly discovered variant is yet to be detected in China, which is currently going through a heave in infections following reports of relaxed control measures that enabled the country to limit the effect of previous waves of COVID-19 in the country.
“Unfortunately, we have not been informed officially but we are trying to gather more information about it including the transmissibility so it’s very difficult to comment on it at this moment until we gather enough information about it,” said departmental spokesperson Foster Mohale.
