NeoCov, new COVID variant discovered by Wuhan University

The COVID-19 virus has kept the whole world hostage for the past two years, as its new variants are trapping human lives. Chinese Scientists warned the world to be prepared for another new variant of the contagious COVID-19 virus, named as NeoCov. This new variant roots its relation with the Middle East respiratory syndrome MERS-coronavirus.

Findings note that NeoCov carries a potentially combined high MERS-CoV mortality rate, meaning that 1 in 3 contracted persons will die. Scientists in their reports have claimed that NeoCov contains the highest transmissibility rate. 

“Furthermore, our studies show that the current COVID-19 vaccinations are inadequate to protect humans from any eventuality of the infections caused by these viruses. Considering the extensive mutations in the RBD regions of the SARS-CoV-2 variants, especially the heavily mutated omicron variant, these viruses may hold a latent potential to infect humans through further adaptation via antigenic drift,” the research report from Wuhan University states. 

Wuhan Scientists have claimed that the virus was first detected in bats in South Africa. Later on, experts from the Vector Russian State Research Centre of Virology and Biotechnology issued a statement on Thursday, stating, “Experts from the Vector research centre are well aware of the facts that Chinese researchers acquired related to the NeoCov coronavirus variant. Presently, it is not about the emergence of a new COVID-19 capable of vigorously transmitting among humans”.   

In the meantime, World Health Organisation – WHO has yet not issued any statement, noting that the new variant requires more in-depth study. 

If we look at the current scenario of the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide, the infection rate of the Omicron variant is witnessing a soar in many countries, as it has a higher transmissibility rate. From the time period between January 17 to January 23, 2022, more than 21 million new COVID-19 cases were recorded in total across the world, which is the highest margin confirmed since the COVID-19 outbreak emerged.