Thailand has detected the first local cases of the coronavirus variant discovered in South Africa, a group of scientists said, saying the finding should prompt vaccination efforts to be ramped up.

The South African variant, known as B.1.351, carries mutations that threaten the efficacy of Covid-19 vaccines, several studies have shown.

In Thailand, the variant was identified in three test samples from a cluster of infections that could be linked to illegal migration in the south of the country, the Covid-19 Network Investigations Alliance said in a report.