Australia investigates new COVID-19 variant found in South Africa

FILE PHOTO: 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. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia on Friday said it was investigating the newly identified COVID-19 variant spreading in South Africa and warned it may close its borders to travellers from the African nation if risks from the new strain rise.

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.