Scientists and health officials are closely tracking a coronavirus variant with a "worrying" number of mutations that has been detected in South Africa, Botswana, and Hong Kong. It had been detected 82 times as of Thursday. And for now, it's being closely monitored.
The variant, called B.1.1.529, has 32 mutations in the part of the virus that attaches to human cells, called the spike protein — the target for existing vaccines and antibody treatments. A higher number of mutations in the spike protein may change its shape and means there is a greater risk those vaccines and treatments won't be as effective against it.
Experts are worried the mutations might make the virus more infectious and help it avoid the antibody response, but this hasn't been proved. It's also not clear whether the mutations make the virus more deadly.
