Belgium detects Europe's 1st South Africa COVID-19 variant case

A group of pedestrians, some wearing protective face masks, walk in the city as members of the Belgian government gather to impose new restrictions to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, in Brussels, Belgium, Nov. 16, 2021. (EPA Photo)

by French Press Agency - AFP

Nov 26, 2021 5:15 pm

Belgium said Friday it has detected the first announced case in Europe of the new COVID-19 variant in an unvaccinated person returning from abroad.

"We have a case that is now confirmed of this variant," B.1.1.529, first detected in South Africa, Belgian Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke told a media conference.

The infected person tested positive on Nov. 22 and had not had COVID-19 before, he added, without giving further details.

A leading Belgian virologist, Marc Van Ranst, tweeted that the person had returned from Egypt on Nov. 11.

Vandebroucke said: "It must be repeated that this is a suspect variant – we don't know if it is a very dangerous variant."

He noted, however, that "as a precaution" Europe was stopping flights from southern Africa.

"So, total precaution but don't panic," he said, adding that Belgium's COVID-19 risk assessment group was analyzing the situation.