Scientists like their odds against wily COVID from SAfrica

The coronavirus strain that took South Africa by storm with its uncanny ability to infect people who who had already been sickened with COVID-19 is now in California and at least three other states. More than any other version of the virus, it has proved itself capable of evading the vaccines designed to block it.

Is another surge fueled by the South Africa strain inevitable here?

Hardly. The evolving coronavirus may have plenty of tricks up its sleeve, but scientists say they do too.

Mounting evidence that several vaccines are less efficient at neutralizing the strain from South Africa is "disturbing news," but "all is not lost," said Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert. Vaccination "still suppresses the virus," he said.

And although the emergence