The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said it is monitoring a new variant of coronavirus called Mu, warning that the new "variant of interest" shows signs of possible resistance to vaccine, according to reports.
It was added to the WHO's watchlist on 30 August after it was detected in 39 countries and found to contain a cluster of mutations that may make it less susceptible to immune protection.
Since its first identification, there have been a few sporadic reports of cases of the Mu variant and some larger outbreaks have been reported from other countries, the WHO said in its weekly bulletin on the pandemic on Tuesday.
Where was the Mu variant first found?
Mu - also known by its scientific name as B.1.621 - was first identified in Colombia in January 2021.
It was classified as a variant of interest on 30 August
Where else has the Mu variant been found?
Since it was first identified, the WHO said sporadic cases and some larger outbreaks have been recorded around the world.
"As of 29 August, over 4500 sequences (3794 sequences of B.1.621 and 856 sequences of B.1.621.1)
have been uploaded to GISAID from 39 countries, the WHO said.
While the variant makes up less than 0.1 percent of COVID-19 infections globally, the prevalence in Colombia (39 percent) and Ecuador (13 percent) has consistently increased, the WHO added.
Is the Mu variant more infectious?
The Mu variant has a constellation of mutations that indicate potential properties of immune escape.
"Preliminary data show a reduction in neutralisation capacity of convalescent and vaccine sera similar to that seen for the Beta variant, but this needs to be confirmed by further studies," the WHO said.
"The epidemiology of the Mu variant in South America, particularly with the co-circulation of the Delta variant, will be monitored for changes," it added.
How is it compared to other variants of concern?
The Mu variant hasn't raised a alarm as much as the Alpha and Delta, both of which have been classified as serious variants of concern, The Guardian reported.
A report by Public Health England (PHE) in July said laboratory work suggests Mu is at least as resistant as Beta variant to immunity from vaccination, according to The Guardian.
However, more evidence is needed from other laboratory studies and rea-world evidence.
“At present, there is no evidence that VUI-21JUL-01 is outcompeting the Delta variant and it appears unlikely that it is more transmissible,” The Guardian reported quoting the study.
But immune escape is a cause for worry and may contribute to changes in growth, it added.
(With inputs from The Guardian.)
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