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Covid: First European case of ‘worrying’ new variant detected in Belgium

Covid: First European case of ‘worrying’ new variant detected in Belgium

The first European case of the “worrying” new Covid variant originating in southern Africa has been identified in Belgium.

Health authorities said the infection had been traced to an unvaccinated young woman who had developed mild flu-like symptoms 11 days after travelling to Egypt from Turkey.

Belgian virologist Marc van Ranst said the patient had developed symptoms on Monday. She did not report any links to South Africa or other neighbouring high-risk countries.

The new B.1.1.529 variant, first detected in Botswana, has sparked alarm among scientists due to its high number of mutations. Senior scientists have said it is the worst strain they have seen so far during the pandemic.

South Africa has confirmed around 100 infections as B.1.1.529, but the variant has also been found in Botswana and Hong Kong, with the Hong Kong case a traveller from South Africa.

It comes shortly after the variant was detected in Israel in a traveller who had returned from Malawi. Late on Thursday, the government declared South Africa and six other African nations to be “red countries” from which foreign nationals are barred from entering Israel.

The UK Government introduced similar restrictions on Thursday, with flights from affected countries temporarily banned.

Addressing the House of Commons on Friday, health secretary Sajid Javid said no cases had yet been detected in the UK but stressed the variant was “of huge international concern.”

“We are concerned that this new variant may pose a substantial risk to public health,” he told MPs. “The variant has an unusually large number of mutations.”

Belgium has been grappling with a sustained rise in cases and hospitalisations in the past month, forcing the government to reinforce stringent containment measures.

Earlier this week, the country’s prime minister Alexander De Croo announced that bars, restaurants and night clubs would have to close at 11pm for the next three weeks to curb the spread.

“We have been hoodwinked by the Delta variant,” he said.

Belgium has the sixth-highest number cases per capita rate in Europe, behind the likes of Austria and Slovakia that have re-entered lockdowns.

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