An analysis showed that South Africa experienced another epidemic even when it was estimated that 97% of the population had antibodies to COVID-19.
According to Bloomberg News on the 30th local time, blood samples of 3,395 people were tested at the end of the fourth epidemic earlier this year, and 87% of South Africans had previously been infected with Corona 19.
More than 97% of those who had a history of being infected with COVID-19 or had antibodies from one or more vaccinations.
South Africa has recently been evaluated to have entered the 5th pandemic with a surge in the number of confirmed cases.
These findings show that omicron mutations, particularly its subspecies BA.4 and BA.5, have the ability to infect humans who have already developed antibodies.
However, even when the latest infection spike peaked and the positive rate was close to a record high, hospitalizations for exacerbation of severe cases were lower than in previous outbreaks and relatively few deaths were reported.
The researchers explained, "The exceptionally high infectivity of the omicron mutation resulted in such a significant epidemic even in a relatively mature epidemic stage."
South Africa, the worst-hit country in Africa, has officially surpassed 100,000 in related deaths.
But when you factor in the excess death toll, which is an analysis of how many more people died than usual, the figure more than triples.
(Photo = Getty Images Korea)