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MINISTER FOR HEALTH Stephen Donnelly has said he is “deeply concerned” by the announcement of a new variant of Covid-19.
The Department of Health said in a statement that it has been monitoring the emergence of the new variant, B.1.1.529, which has been identified in a number of countries in southern Africa.
The variant has also been detected in Hong Kong, Israel, and Belgium has also detected the first announced case in Europe.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) is meeting with South African authorities today while the HSE and the Department of Health are continuing to monitor the situation.
But how is this new variant different from previous variants and how dangerous is it?
When did it first appear?
The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) in South Africa first detected the new variant in on 22 November.
Samples were then uploaded to a coronavirus variant tracking website on 23 November from South Africa, Hong Kong and then Botswana. A total of 59 samples have been uploaded on to the website so far.
Three samples are from Hong Kong, three are from Botswana and the rest are from South Africa.
Outlining the situation in South Africa, one senior scientist said: “If we look at the results they had up to a week ago, less than 1% of people were testing positive in lots of areas. That’s increased very dramatically in some parts to 6% in the last few days, and so that makes me concerned quite rapidly on people that may be arriving [in the UK] now.”
Are there any cases in Ireland?
The Department of Health has confirmed that no cases have yet been detected in Ireland.
“No cases of this variant have been reported in Europe to date, but the Minister for Health is deeply concerned,” it said.
“The Department has been in contact with colleagues in Northern Ireland and we will continue to liaise with UK authorities.
“The Department’s advice to the Minister will continue to be informed by relevant guidance emanating from the ECDC and the WHO.”
What does this mean for travellers?
The EU is expected to announce an immediate travel ban to southern Africa.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that she “proposes, in close coordination with the member states, to activate the emergency brake to stop air travel from the southern African region”.
Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney has said that a decision on stopping flights from the southern African region should be made later today, and sources have indicated to The Journal that a decision is imminent.
According to their website, the Department of Foreign Affairs “no longer advises against non-essential travel to South Africa based on the current assessment of Covid-19 risks”.
It advises people to “avoid non-essential travel” to Botswana, and urges people to exercise a “high degree of caution” if travelling to South Africa or Namibia.
The UK has suspended flights from South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Zimbabwe and Botswana.
From midday, all UK and Irish residents will be banned from entering the UK if they have been any of the six countries over the last ten days.
How is it different from the other variants?
Despite only being tracked for the past three days, the virus has been identified as having 30 different mutations already. By comparison, that is twice as many as the Delta variant, which has been the most prominent variant in Ireland over the past few months.
“The big issue with this variant is the number of mutations in the spike protein,” Professor of immunology at DCU Christine Loscher told The Journal.
“This could mean that it’s more transmissible and that it’s going to transmit more easily from person to person. That’s why we’re concerned, because we don’t know as yet what that means for this virus and its variants.”
An important question will be whether it can overtake the Delta variant to become the dominant strain, as Delta did with Alpha and as Alpha did with the previous strains of the virus.
Data shared on Twitter by University College London Professor Christina Pagel suggests that this might already be happening in South Africa.
Because of this increase, COVID sequencing has been concentrated on samples from Guateng.
— Prof. Christina Pagel (@chrischirp) November 25, 2021
Almost all recent samples from there (77) have been this new variant (blue dots) - taking over from a background of Delta (red) and C.1.2 (also a concerning variant, yellow). 4/16 pic.twitter.com/i5s4DJ8JT6
Will the vaccines protect people against it?
It’s too early to say. The mutations could potentially make the variant more transmissible and evade the protection given by prior infection or vaccination.
Loscher said that while there are concerns that the variant “has so many mutations on the spike protein that the antibodies we’ve made with our vaccines aren’t as good” against it, we won’t find out just yet.
“It’s probably going to take a couple of weeks to see how potentially evasive the variant might be to the antibodies that are activated by the vaccines, and that’s what scientists are literally working on right now,” she said.
The NCIP has said that based on their understanding of the mutations of the variant, “partial immune escape is likely, but it is likely that vaccines will still offer high levels of protection against hospitalisation and death.”
In a statement to The Journal, a spokesperson for Pfizer said: “Pfizer and BioNTech are remaining vigilant, and we are constantly conducting surveillance efforts focused on monitoring for emerging variants that potentially escape protection from our vaccine.”
“As always, we will continue to follow the science as we examine the best approaches to protecting people against COVID-19.”
They added that in the event that vaccine-escape variant emerges, they expect to be able to develop and produce “a tailor-made vaccine against that variant in approximately 100 days, subject to regulatory approval”.
Has it been classed as a “variant of concern”?
The WHO has yet to classify the new variant as a variant of concern.
The organisation are meeting South African authorities today to assess the new variant, and may designate it as either a variant of interest or a variant of concern, spokesperson Christian Lindmeier told a media briefing in Geneva.
“Early analysis shows that this variant has a large number of mutations that require and will undergo further study,” he said, adding that it “will take weeks to understand what impact this variant has”.
“Researchers are working to understand more about the mutations and what they potentially mean for how transmissible or virulent this variant is, and how they may impact on diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines.”
If the WHO designate it as a variant of concern, it will be given a Greek letter, such as what happened with Alpha and Delta.
However, the organisation say that national authorities may choose to designate other variants of local interest and concern.
The UK have yet to classify it as a variant of concern, as scientists say they do not have enough evidence on its levels of transmissibility. However, some have said they are concerned.
Professor Ravi Gupta, a professor of clinical microbiology at the University of Cambridge, has said: “B.1.1.529 has signatures of cumulative mutation indicating that it emerged in a chronic infection.
“B.1.1.529 does certainly look of significant concern based on mutations present. Many have been shown to impact binding by neutralising antibodies, and some are known to increase the ability of virus to enter cells or to make them fuse together to allow cell-cell spread.”
Professor Neil Ferguson, a member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), said: “The B.1.1.529 variant has an unprecedented number of mutations in the spike protein gene, the protein which is the target of most vaccines.
“There is therefore a concern that this variant may have a greater potential to escape prior immunity than previous variants.
“However, we do not yet have reliable estimates of the extent to which B.1.1.529 might be either more transmissible or more resistant to vaccines, so it is too early to be able to provide an evidence-based assessment of the risk it poses.”
It is known as a “variant under monitoring”, meaning scientists believe it may pose a future risk, but its impact is unclear.
HSE CEO Paul Reid has said that the variant is “an obvious cause for concern”.
“The concern in terms of any variant is that it can potentially evade the body’s immune response and make it more transmissible, which we know from Delta can have significant impacts,” he said.
In the UK, scientists are eager to acquire live virus cultures so it can be examined, but this takes time. It can take seven to 10 days at least to grow enough virus that can be shared with other scientists so they can study how it mutates and changes.
Officials will now also have to wait for data to come from South Africa. The earliest they are expecting evidence to come through is two to three weeks, but it could be as long as four to six weeks.
- With reporting from PA and AFP.
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Am I right in saying that farmers produce the beef and ‘the trade’ makes most of the profits?
@Garreth Byrne: were getting paid €3.45/kg of a carcass. That’s about 4.20/kg of actual meat at most. The shops are selling it for a conservative estimate at €9/kg somehow from when it leave our gate till it gets to your plate it doubles in cost, yet we are told we need to be more efficient? None of the processors or shops are reporting losses either.
@Adam Porter: Adam I had a quick look online at beef prices. Sirloin steak SuperValu € 37:50 per kg. Dunne’s mince €5 per kg. So even the cheapest meat is sold for more than what the farmers get for any of it
@Eamonn O Connell: another important thing to remember is that mince can be made from any grade or quality of animal. 3.45/kg is the price of an average quality bullock’s meat under the age of 30months.
Now if it’s over that age the price drastically goes down, even if it’s the same grade. If it’s an old cow of 5 or 6 years plus you’ll get about 2-2.50/kg and that will yield the same quality mince as any younger animal as it’s grounded meat the toughness from being older is negated.
@Garreth Byrne: support your local farmers market
@Adam Porter:
I hope farmers get more. I think they should make the most of the whole process.
@Adam Porter: The most important point which most of you miss is that 90% of beef slaughtered in Ireland is exported so the price of steak in Super Value or the price of mince in Dunnes Stores is about as relevant as whether there is water on Mars or not. Meat factories are business’s competing with other business’s in the Uk and around Europe and have to remain competitive otherwise there wont be beef for anyone
@Adam Porter: The likes of the farmers vote FFG every election and cry about how they are getting ripped off, has the penny not dropped yet?, FFG are only in it for themselves and their buddies in big business……you reap what you sow so I say suck it up because your voting has this country the mess it is.
@Adam Porter: the big question now Adam is…will the farmers vote the same old parties into government again.If so nothing will have been learned from all this…
@Martin McFly: I often go to local farmers markets but mostly buy vegetables, eggs, soft cheeses and homemade jams. A few such markets also sell pre-weighed organic meat. Somewhere along the slaughtering and distribution chain the retail buying cost of beef rises high. Groups of farmers regionally will have to try co-op marketing principles. Other species of livestock, whether for fur, wool or meat, could be raised on mixed farms. Has the Farmers Journal been querying the beef trade and the prevalence of monoculture in our climatic regions? If the Netherlands can export flowers and vegetables worldwide why can’t we?
@Garreth Byrne: Completely agree. Irish farmers are way behind their worldwide counterparts when it comes to adapting land/livestock for more profitable crops or animals. Simple economics shows if there is plentiful supply, price will be low, you have to adapt!! Value added activities will always allow for huge margins, they need to create a co-op. If they don’t change, they only have themselves to blame for the price of beef.
@Ben: Yea that’s true we export 8 times more than we use in Ireland. 2 thirds of that goes to the UK, a market where British beef is the highest farm gate price in the main european markets. Certainly highest in our main markets. It doesn’t matter what factories get paid for the meat it’s in their best interest to return as little as possible to farmers.
Was talking to an elderly farmer this morning. His take on it is that creed wasn’t to be seen when farmers were being robbed by factories but now that big business is suffering a loss he’s all over this to get a solution. Also the I.F.A are getting a percentage of each animal killed from farmers which is collected by ……. the factories !! So they’re “skulking outside the door while individual farmers risk getting fined and jailed but when there’s an announcement to be made they’re first to run to the papers “ so it’s farmers who’ll sort this not government or the IFA
Being from the big smoke, didnt understand the issues. Didnt notice the cost if my beef had dropped in the supermarket neither. No, it hasnt, so why are the farmers being paid less? Something aint right!
The meat factories and supermarkets have screwed the beef farmers for years..we produce the best beef in the world and the producers shoould be paid accordingly.
And I’m not a farmer.
We don’t see any multi millionaire beef farmers
Its so nice that the farmers who carry out all the hard work , in all types of weather will now get some reward for their product, as opposed to the big supermarkets. Well done to all the farmers in the country, they deserve our support.
Fair play to the farmers for standing up
Time to get this wrapped up as the fodder crisis will be on soon
We might have 2 fodder crises this year
Does this mean there will be no poor farmers driving 19 registered €50k jeeps at the National ploughing championships
Might be an idea for the sacked beef factory employees to come and taste the beef if they can afford to go
Don’t go blockading the place there lads !
@Paul Dooley: Yes it’s far too much to ask for farmers to afford new equipment. Sure we’ll buy the jeeps from the d4 lot when they are out of style for the school run. A foundation our industry should be based on is taking leftovers! How very dare those farmers buy anything to run their businesses!
What about the workers who were sent home and no pay coming in
@Alan Donnelly: get overtime next week
I can’t for the life of understand why the FAI get paid by the factories
@Paul Dooley: John Delaney’s knows no bounds
When did the FAI start getting the payment from the meat factories ??
. And the big question where did John Delaneys sheep skin jacket come from ?
This is a waste of time by the Minister. Nothing on scrapping the 4-moves rule or the 30 months age limit which is the only way to open up the market in the cattle marts and let demand and supply dictate price. This is the only reason the factories will not agree to getting rid of these nonsensical rules and Bord Bia is no better.
Does Anyone know is the €100m farmers got in May for the fodder crisis is included in those figures /breakdowns on who gets what
@Paul Dooley: why don’t you look into the conditions of getting a few euro from that fund, guaranteed a lot of that money won’t be drawn down unless you want an even less efficient farm. No good to the vast majority of farms.
@Paul Dooley: if you are looking for an answer on why there’s a fodder crisis try looking at the ships in cork being loaded with bales of silage for ballast
@MOD: Why would anyone use silage as ballast?!
How much will this cost the taxpayer?
@Paul Murphy:
23%/kg
@Peter: thanks…so now we are subsidising farmers to produce cattle that will be sold as a finished product to the international market by the factories at extortionate prices…so basically the tax payer are propping up the beef industry..sugar beet all over again. Nothing against the farmers they need to make a living but big industry being propped up by the state. Too big to fail..sounds familiar
@Paul Murphy: why don’t you read the article? It’s a better price from the factory the farmers want for their produce. Currently the factory and retailers are taking all the profits.
@Adrian™: yes and the farmers have got it plus an intervention of 23% per kilo from the taxpayer..read the comments..so in effect the supply chain to the factory has been supported by the state with no return to the state despite the factories continuing to make profits regardless of the increase in payments. Yes its win for the farmers..but its also a win for private industry off the back of those who pay tax.
@Paul Murphy: there is no extra payment from the government for the farmers here, this disagreement is between the farmers and the factories and retailers.
@Paul Murphy: what intervention? And how is it 23%/kg, the factories are offering to pay 8c more per kilo of in spec beef, that’s a 2% increase of the beef price.
Now lads well done
When will we have the fodder crisis ??
Get into the real world farmers
Open your own farm shops or get another job no more handouts
Try opening a factory ye can’t lose if it’s as bad as ye say
Stop handouts Just cos ye have political clout and ye are bigger than chicken fish and pig producers
And instead of protesting get ready for the bi annual fodder crisis
Whinge whinge
Time for any government to call their bluff
@Paul Dooley: you have a serious chip on your shoulder.
@Paul Dooley: you’re what we’d call a fierce eejit. If you actually understood the situation before spouting rubbish it would be a help. They would struggle to open coops cos offal is controlled by Larry Goodman who is hardly gonna allow them to dispose of it in his plants. The fodder crisis was a very real issue last year and the year before and was mainly sorted with the help of Co-ops importing fodder from France and England which farmers paid for. Would you have preferred to see animals dying in the fields and sheds ?? And finally no farmer was looking for or got a handout in this case but were looking for a fair price for animals from privately owned factories which they have now reached agreement with. It cost you nothing as no state funds were used
@Paul Dooley: farmers used to own the meat plants but found there was no money in processing and sold them off to Goodman and others.
Hope the farmers get a fair price for their beef.
Who pays the increases?
Have the beef factories agreed price increase?
@Pat Dromey:
I assumed it would mean someone takes a hit for the price to remain the same for the consumer
Beef farming is dead.
The fact that the bonus on under 30months has been increased is proof of how much the factories want to hold onto this silly rule. Along with the 4 moves they can manipulate the entire trade.
@Adam
I agree but what about it the emissions ??
Could the poor beef farmers not use horses now and again Where did all the horses go?
@Paul Dooley: exactly we should be using teams of horses and armies of men. Let’s get the Irishman back toiling on the land. It should only take about 100 people to feed 1000 then. The good old days, where land owners reigned supreme as the common man slaved for bread and shelter.
There is a happy medium, all we want is a living and to be able to afford to do our jobs properly.
Great work John Delaney
When the farmers get the handouts it would be fitting to have a testimonial for John Delaney
Time for consumers to protest the cost of beef !!!
have your say