Covid 'mu' mutation is in nearly EVERY US state already as WHO warns latest 'variant of interest' may evade vaccines

A Covid variant known as B.1.621 or “Mu” is a stealthy mutation of the disease that some scientists say is already spreading in the US may be vaccine-resistant.

"Since its first identification in Colombia in January 2021, there have been a few sporadic reports of cases of the Mu variant, and some larger outbreaks have been reported from other countries in South America and in Europe," according to an Aug. 31 weekly epidemiological update released by World Health Organization (WHO).

FIRST FOUND IN COLUMBIA

Since its discovery in Colombia the Mu variant has spread to 38 other countries.

"It does not appear that its circulation is increasing”, said WHO spokeswoman Dr. Margaret Harris during a UN press briefing in Geneva on Tuesday.

Mu is the fifth Covid-19 variant of concern by the WHO, with the alpha variant being detected in 193 countries, beta in 141, gamma in 91 and delta in 170 countries, according to New Scientist.

BELOW 0.1 PER CENT

The WHO expressed how the prevalence of Mu is dropping. 

"Although the global prevalence of the Mu variant among sequenced cases has declined and is currently below 0.1 per cent, the prevalence in Colombia (39 per cent) and Ecuador (13 per cent) has consistently increased.

"Since its first identification in Colombia in January 2021, there have been a few sporadic reports of cases of the Mu variant and some larger outbreaks have been reported from other countries in South America and in Europe.”

A preview of the WHO study claimed that Mu has also been detected in Botswana, China, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the United Kingdom, Mauritius, New Zealand, Portugal and Switzerland, Newsweek reported.

'IMMUNE ESCAPE'

The health body suggested that Mu "has a constellation of mutations that indicate potential properties of immune escape,” meaning it may be able to withstand the protection the vaccines deliver.

But more studies are needed to understand Mu’s makeup. 

The prevalence of the variant is being “interpreted with due consideration” given the low sequencing capacity of most countries, the agency said. 

MONITORING MU

The agency plans to monitor its spread. 

"The epidemiology of the Mu variant in South America, particularly with the co-circulation of the Delta variant, will be monitored for changes," the report notes.

When the coronavirus materialized, it was widely believed it like other viruses would mutate over time. 

While most mutations have little or no effect on the properties of the virus, certain changes in its genetics can influence how fast it spreads, the severity of disease and the potential immunity.

In the US, there have been 160,250 Covid cases counted, the New York Times reported.

The number of globally reported deaths was “just over 67,000,” according to the WHO.

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