This archive report was first published on 1 September 2021.
Geneva, September 1, 2021 - The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified a new coronavirus variant known as 'Mu', which was first detected in Colombia in January.
The variant, known scientifically as B.1.621, has been classified as a 'variant of interest' due to its potential risk of vaccine resistance, according to the WHO's weekly pandemic bulletin published on Tuesday.
According to the WHO, the 'Mu' variant has a constellation of mutations that indicate potential properties of immune escape, which could make it more resistant to vaccines.
There is widespread concern over the emergence of new virus mutations as infection rates are ticking up globally again, with the highly transmissible Delta variant taking hold, especially among the unvaccinated, and in regions where anti-virus measures have been relaxed.
While most mutations have little or no effect on the properties of the virus, certain mutations can impact the properties of a virus and influence how easily it spreads, the severity of the disease it causes, and its resistance to vaccines, drugs, and other countermeasures.
The WHO currently identifies four Covid-19 variants of concern, including Alpha and Delta, which are present in 193 and 170 countries, respectively. Five variants, including Mu, are to be monitored.
After being detected in Colombia, Mu has since been reported in other South American countries and in Europe. The WHO said its global prevalence has declined to below 0.1 percent among sequenced cases, but in Colombia, it is at 39 percent.
