Updates

These updates includes material published by third parties and compiled by PAHO. PAHO has taken reasonable precautions to verify the information contained in the document. However, this material is being distributed without warranty of any kind. The reader is responsible for the interpretation and use of this information and in no event shall PAHO be held liable for any damages arising from its use.
  • Updates
  • Clarifications/conclusions of events presented in previous communications
  • Other related updates
04/19/2021

Comments on a new SARS-CoV-2 variant of interest detected in Africa, including information from a non-peer-reviewed article not yet published

The article – A novel SARS-CoV-2 variant of interest, with multiple spike mutations, detected through travel surveillance in Africa – a preprint not yet peer reviewed, reporting on Angola's first genomic surveillance results through March 2021, was developed by a group of researchers from the KwaZulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform, of the Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, in Durban, South Africa.

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04/11/2021

Elevated neutralizing antibody titers and SARS-CoV-2 variants

There is growing concern that emerging variants of SARS-CoV-2 may evade neutralizing antibodies induced by prior infection or vaccination, through mutations in the spike protein, including the receptor-binding domain (RBD).

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03/30/2021

Vaccination and patients with long-term symptoms

There are a number of patients with COVID-19 who develop long-term symptoms after infection with SARS-CoV-2, for which the term "Long COVID" has begun to be used. The symptoms vary, but the most common are fatigue, shortness of breath, myalgia, and insomnia.

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03/30/2021

ANVISA and Butantan discuss anti-SARS-CoV-2 equine serum tests

Technicians from the National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA) and the Butantan Institute in Brasil met to consider the requested authorization to research the use, in humans, of equine serum developed to combat COVID- 19, also known as anti-SARS-CoV-2 hyperimmune serum.

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03/30/2021

Variants and impact on vaccination against COVID-19

COVID-19 vaccines (both those already developed and those in development) are based on inducing an immune response to the spicule glycoprotein (S) version of the initial pandemic SARS-CoV-2 virus.

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03/23/2021

New vaccines development

The emergence of variants with the ability to evade the immune system is driving a search for new development strategies and expanding the range of viral epitopes, which the new vaccines are designed to address.

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