Moo virus

The new variant, mu, was first identified in Colombia but has since been confirmed in at least 39 countries, according to the WHO.

Although the global prevalence of the variant among sequenced cases has declined and is currently below 0. The WHO said more studies are required to understand the clinical characteristics of the new variant. Skip Navigation. Key Points. The World Health Organization is monitoring a new coronavirus variant called "mu.

The new variant was first identified in Colombia but has since been confirmed in at least 39 countries, according to the agency. VIDEO It has since been detected in 40 countries , but is thought to currently be responsible for only 0. Mu has been much more prevalent in Colombia than anywhere else.

This suggests that the virus is no longer circulating in Colombia, but is being transmitted in other nearby South American countries. So far, 45 cases have been identified in the UK through genetic analysis, and it looks like they came from overseas. The key questions are whether mu is more transmissible than the currently dominant variant, delta, and whether it can cause more severe disease.

Mu has a mutation called PH, first reported in the alpha variant, that is potentially responsible for faster transmission. However, this study is still in preprint, meaning its findings have yet to be formally reviewed by other scientists. Mu also has the mutations EK and KN, which are associated with being able to evade antibodies against the coronavirus — the evidence on this is more concrete.

Mu also has other mutations — including RK and YT — whose consequences are unknown, hence the need for further analysis. But can mu actually evade pre-existing immunity? Despite this, the study still considered the protection offered against mu by the vaccine to be robust.

Striking reports on mu have been appearing, though. In early August, Reuters reported that seven fully vaccinated residents of a nursing home in Belgium had died from an outbreak of mu. Tokyo Olympics. Our mission statement Arrow. About About Axios. Advertise with us. Axios on HBO. Axios HQ. Privacy and terms. Online tracking choices.

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