The Mu variant of COVID-19 joined WHO’s list of Variants of Interest (VOIs) on August 30, 2021.
Mu variant, a new COVID-19 strain, is seemingly causing an alarm among health experts and scientists. The World Health Organization has officially designated the name upon including it on the list of “Variants of Interest” (VOIs) on Monday.
The health agency released the updates during its weekly epidemiological meeting the following day. NBC consequently released a report on the matter, providing the details about the new COVID-19 VOI.
The WHO stated that it is “monitoring” the strain due to its nature and characteristics. Based on the data, the variant reportedly shows the potential ability to evade immunity from previous vaccination or infection.
Mu variant is likely more vaccine-resistant
The World Health Organization reported that the Mu variant could resist COVID-19 vaccines. This comes as it has a “constellation of mutations,” indicating “potential properties of immune escape.”
The health agency continued that the existing COVID-19 vaccines “may not work as well against it as they do” against the original strain of the virus. This also applies to the monoclonal antibody treatments that health workers provide to patients. As explained, the variant carries “genetic mutations that indicate natural immunity.”
Monitoring continues, so are the studies
The WHO noted that the preliminary data show a “reduction in neutralization capacity of convalescent,” as well as vaccine sera. This means that the Mu variant showed reduced vaccine effectiveness, a property that is similar to the Beta variant.
Despite this, further study is necessary to “confirm” the initial findings. The agency also stressed that research and monitoring are needed to verify whether “it will prove to be more contagious,” more vaccine- and treatment-resistant, or more deadly.
Emergence and prevalence of the variant
The United Nation News published an article, as well, providing information about the new COVID-19 variant. It first emerged in Colombia earlier in January, and has since become increasingly prevalent across the country.
Alongside Colombia, “sporadic reports” of outbreaks and cases have surfaced in Ecuador, other parts of South America, and Europe. But, prevalence has “consistently increased” across the two named countries, where it now accounts for 39 percent and 13 percent of the cases, respectively.
The Mu variant is now the fifth Variant of Interest on the WHO’s watchlist since March. Meanwhile, the recently reported C.1.2 strain has yet to become a variant to follow, nor a variant of concern or interest. While scientists are closely monitoring its movements, WHO spokesperson Dr. Margaret Harris said that the circulation does not appear to increase.
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