Boys run past a mural by Senzart911, of children wearing facemasks amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, at Soweto's Kliptown, South Africa, October 27, 2021. (Photo: REUTERS)

South African scientists are concerned the new variant could evade the body's immune response and make it more transmissible as it has a "very unusual constellation" of mutations. The variant was first identified at the start of this week.

Australia Health Minister Greg Hunt said he would swiftly respond if the World Health Organization (WHO) classifies it as a major new variant.

Alarmed by the variant, Britain has temporarily banned flights from several African nations including South Africa, Namibia, and Botswana.

UK health officials said the new strain could make vaccines less effective as it has a spike protein that was different from the one in the original coronavirus that vaccines are based on.

The WHO said it would take "a few weeks" to understand the impact of the new variant.