After the Delta comes the Mu. The World Health Organization has announced the monitoring of a new coronavirus variant called “mu” with mutations that have the potential to evade the immunity provided by a previous infection or vaccination.
The new variant was first identified in Colombia, but has since been confirmed in at least 39 countries, according to the agency. The Mu variant – also known to scientists as B.1.621 – was added to the WHO’s list of variants “of interest” on 30 August. The variant contains genetic mutations which indicate that natural immunity, current vaccines or monoclonal antibody treatments may not work as well against it as they do against the original ancestral virus. However, more studies are needed to confirm whether it will prove more contagious, more deadly, or more resistant to current vaccines and treatments.