A new type of COVID-19, called Mu, will have the ability to evade the immunity provided by vaccines. Experts assure that there is no cause for concern, but the fact is that this variant is being discovered in more and more countries.
Although the global prevalence of Mu variant and specific cases has decreased and is currently below 0.1%, prevalence in Colombia (39%) and Ecuador (13%) has increased steadily. The new Mu type has already been detected in Portugal, but there have been no new cases since the end of July.
The variant - B.1.621 (Mu) has been classified as the next variant
The World Health Organization (WHO) is monitoring a new type of coronavirus called "Mu", which was first identified in Colombia in January. The variant - B.1.621, according to the scientific nomenclature - has been classified as "the variant to follow", as defined by the World Health Organization, in the Epidemiological Bulletin on the evolution of the pandemic.
The World Health Organization has identified that the variant contains mutations that may indicate a risk of vaccine resistance and emphasized that further studies are needed to better understand its properties.
All viruses, including SARS-CoV-2 responsible for COVID-19, change over time. Most mutations have little or no effect on the characteristics of the virus.
Certain mutations can affect the characteristics of the virus and the effect, for example, the ease of its spread, the severity of the disease or the effectiveness of vaccines, medications, diagnosis or other social and public health measures.
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