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Tulio de Oliveira Profile picture
@Tuliodna
Nov 25, 2021 • 8 tweets • 5 min read • Read on X
Busy day on B.1.1.529 - a variant of great concern - The world should provide support to South Africa and Africa and not discriminate or isolate it! By protecting and supporting it, we will protect the world! A plea for billionaires and financial institutions. 1/8 tweets
We have been very transparent with scientific information. We identified, made data public, and raised the alarm as the infections are just increasing. We did this to protect our country and the world in spite of potentially suffering massive discrimination. Image
This new variant is really worrisome at the mutational level. South Africa and Africa will need support (financially, public health, scientific) to control it so it does not spread in the world. Our poor and deprived population can not be in lockdown without financial support. Image
This new variant, B.1.1.529 seems to spread very quick! In less than 2 weeks now dominates all infections following a devastating Delta wave in South Africa (Blue new variant, now at 75% of last genomes and soon to reach 100%) Image
Because this variant (B.1.1.529) can be detected by a normal qPCR due to deletion at Spike position 69-70 (like Alpha), it will make it easy for the world to track it. We estimate that 90% of the cases in Gauteng (at least 1000 a day are this variant, due to qPCR proxy testing) Image
We are working around the clock to understand effects on 1) Transmissibility, 2) vaccines, 3) Re-infection, disease severity, and diagnostics. We do have funding for science, but South Africa and Africa need financial help to support their deprived population and health system.
I would like to plea to all billionaires in this world @elonmusk @BillGates @JeffBezos @DrPatSoonShiong @WarrenBuffett to support Africa & South Africa financially to control and extinguish variants! By protecting its poor and oppressed population we will protect the world.
I also want to plea to financial organizations @WorldBank @IMFNews @USAID @PEPFAR @GlobalFund to support the poor population and governments in South Africa and Africa to control and extinguish variants! By protecting its poor and oppressed population we will protect the world.

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More from @Tuliodna

Tulio de Oliveira Profile picture
Feb 1
Release of 8 new genomes of a new lineage of SARS-CoV-2 with > 100 mutations from South Africa. This is probably the most divergence lineage identified this year. In this thread, we highlight some of the characteristics of the new BA.2.X lineage and epidemiology in SA.
So far, this has been detected from eight samples from three districts in Limpopo and Gauteng provinces (Capricorn, City of Johannesburg and City of Tshwane) between 20 September and 29 November 2023. All eight genomes were sequenced by the NICD from SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance (routine diagnostic samples) or syndromic GP-based surveillance (Viral Watch) @nicd_sa
•The variant is genetically distinct from currently circulating Omicron lineages (particularly BA.2.86 and JN.1), and initial analysis suggests it has likely emerged from BA.2 or from the basal node of Omicron. Image
Read 22 tweets
Tulio de Oliveira Profile picture
Aug 31, 2023
South Africa has today detected a 3rd case of BA.2.86. In total, 3 genomes, 2 from Gauteng & 1 from Mapumalanga. Since the discovery of the first case, scientists advising the government have been alerted, here, I summarise SA advisory to this new lineage of COVID-19 🧵
South Africa is one of few countries of the world that still have an active genomics surveillance program and a scientific advisory board for the COVID-19 pandemic, which is called the Ministerial Advisory Board (MAC) that advise the ministers.
As the new Omicron BA.2.86 lineage has over 30 extra mutations was spotted in Denmark and Israel, SA increase genomics surveillance and inform the ministers. We also had special seating of the Ministerial Advisory Board (MAC) to discuss the implications of BA.2.86 2 weeks ago.
Read 16 tweets
Tulio de Oliveira Profile picture
Jan 3, 2023
A small thread on COVID recombinants:
- Omicron XBB.1.5 in U.S.A. with key Spike F486P mutation
- Omicron/Delta XAY in SA also with F486P.

The XBB.1.5 seems to be fast increasing prevalence, whereas XAY faded. Will XBB.1.5 spread further? What is the role of the F486P mutation?
A new recombinant lineage of Omicron XBB.1.5 seems to be emerging in the U.S.A. Very early data puts to an evolution of XBB.1.5 lineage to get a 'key mutation' F486P (Purple collar on graph, high prevalence in the East Coast). Image
A detailed analysis of this new XBB.1.5 Omicron recombinant has been covered by many of my US scientific colleagues. For good source of analysis see @EricTopol @ScottGottliebMD @jbloom_lab - erictopol.substack.com/p/a-new-varian…
Read 7 tweets
Tulio de Oliveira Profile picture
Dec 30, 2022
A small thread on:
1) Why we are alerted but not too concerned of the global effects of the massive wave of COVID-19 in China,
2) Why the proposed restrictions from Italy & USA are not likely to be effective.
3) Some simple global interventions for 2023.
China decided to stop its Zero-COVID intervention. The intervention worked well in the past two years and allowed time for the world and China to develop vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics. Now, there is fear that the COVID-19 tsunami in China will detail the global efforts.
The wave of COVID-19 infections in China seems to be enormous, some of the epidemiological modelling and news point to millions of daily infections and up to 9,000 daily deaths. A really sad statistic to end 2022 and we feel for the Chinese families and communities.
Read 14 tweets
Tulio de Oliveira Profile picture
Dec 4, 2022
Like many scientists, I am also not convinced that Omicron evolved stepwise in Africa and was undetected for months. In the next tweets, I highlight some of my thoughts on this report and highlight some of the weaknesses. 1/x
First, the 'fishing' of intermediates in Africa should also have been performed in Europe and the USA, which were the regions of the world that introduced the majority of Omicron lineages to Africa - medrxiv.org/content/10.110…
Second, the quality of the sequences seems problematic. Their produced sequences could be contaminated and the date of public sequences from GISAID from Africa predating Omicron was not confirmed (P.S. they exclude all non-African sequences with dubious dates).
Read 12 tweets
Tulio de Oliveira Profile picture
Oct 23, 2022
Update of COVID-19 variants in South Africa. A new Omicron lineage (BQ.1/BQ.1.1) has been recently detected in South Africa. It is still at small prevalence (5-10%). Infectious numbers are low as well positivity rate, number of hospitalisation and deaths. A small thread 1/x
The Network for Genomics Surveillance in South Africa (NGS-SA) is alerted and has increased genomics surveillance. Our last genomes are less than 1 week old and show some increase of BQ.1 & BQ.1.1. We are current not concerned due to high population immunity and low infections.
BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 seems to also be increasing prevalence in Europe. In South Africa is mostly prevalent at the Western Cape, which is our most touristic province, highlighting that it is likely that these are introductions from Europe.
Read 7 tweets

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