A new coronavirus variant that’s showing the potential to evade immunity is now being closely monitored by the World Health Organization and officials in the United States.
The mu variant — named after the Greek letter, following convention — was first documented in Colombia and has “a constellation of mutations that indicate potential properties of immune escape,” according to a World Health Organization report published earlier this week.
The mutant was added to the WHO list of “variants of interest” on Monday. Variants of interest are those with genetic changes that could impact characteristics such as transmissibility or disease severity and cause significant community spread.
A variant of interest isn’t quite as bad as a “variant of concern” — such as the delta variant — which is defined as a mutant that causes increased spread and severity, or decreased effectiveness of public health measures such as vaccines or social distancing.
There have been a few “sporadic” reports of mu variant cases and outbreaks in South America and Europe, according to the WHO report.
Overall, mu variant cases make up 0.1% of all infections globally, but prevalence in Colombia is about 39% and has consistently increased.
When asked about the mu variant during a Thursday press briefing, the nation’s top infectious disease specialist, Dr. Anthony Fauci, said, “We always pay attention to, at all times, variants. This variant has a constellation of mutations that suggests that it would evade certain antibodies … but there isn’t a lot of clinical data to suggest that, it is mostly laboratory in vitro data.”
Fauci said the mu variant is being taken seriously and monitored closely, but isn’t a threat right now.
The mu variant makes up 0.2% of coronavirus cases in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The highly contagious delta variant still accounts for nearly all coronavirus cases in the U.S. right now.
Dr. Daniel Kuritzkes, chief of infectious disease at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, said it’s a bit too early to know if the mu variant will be cause for concern, but it’s important to keep tabs the mutant’s progress.
“It seems given the fact that the variant has been detected in South America and England, and it’s been associated with some clusters and has these concerning mutations — there’s certainly good reason to be monitoring it closely,” Kuritzkes said.
There have been 44 cases of the mu variant detected in England as of last week, according to Public Health England.
The United States has cycled quickly through several predominant variants since the pandemic began, said Kuritzkes. He noted that the alpha variant, which originated in the United Kingdom and was once dominant in the U.S., was quickly replaced with the delta variant.
There are several other variants of interest on the WHO list, including the iota variant, which was first found in the U.S., the kappa variant with origins in India, the lambda variant found in Peru and the eta variant detected in multiple countries.
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Comforting to know the World Health Organization is right on it, I’m sure everyone feels so much better for it!
YEa.. I feel safe already..
NOT!
I’m sure its ten times worse than the Delta variant—requires five masks—will require the development of a specific vaccine—will need boosters within one month after getting that vaccine—may need to close schools and churches—restricted capacity everywhere else. Will make adjustments on the fly as needed.
Na. This one will mandate folks, carry a full on SCBA suit, with oxygen tank, that you HAVE TO carry and wear at all times you are outside your home.. And if you fail to do so, you will get sent to the internment, i mean quarantine camps.. For your own safety of course.
The WHO and Dr. Fauci covering up for China. Secondly, how many of these “Mu Variants” are coming across our Southern Broder with the illegal aliens that come from South America. Isn’t it funny that Dr. Fauci, the “nation’s top infectious disease specialist”(???????), says nothing about illegal aliens bringing covid and other diseases into our Country. Fauci’s only concern is to imprison the American people and sadly, the sheep Democrat voters will follow him and imprison themselves.
I honestly believe, that’s because he WANTS THE illegal invaders, to bring it in that way he can KEEP THE covid experience going on as long as possible..
Really? Seriously? Anybody that believes that fraud is already dead from his “expert” advice. He has changed his mind??? so many times it’s bordering on insanity to actually believe anything he says. Just more bs from the prince of darkness.
We may never be allowed to expose the evidence proving the truth but I sincerely believe:
Fauci arranged for funding the communist Chinese Wuhan lab knowing that it was manufacturing the evil virus.
Fauci likely has large investments in the drug companies now made even more wealthy by the pandemic.
The Chinese government deliberately distributed the virus worldwide to kill as many people as possible, regardless of nationality.
American communists fully cooperated with the Chinese government and worked to cripple the American economy.
All this to weaken America, China’s rival in the world, in a plot to eventually rule the entire world.
The current administration is spending billions to fund useless socialist programs and borrowing the money from China.
It’s all a carefully-planned, carefully-executed plan to promote and expand Chinese communism and enslave us all.
The big tech companies are helping to keep a lid on this with their censorship of the truth.
Big pharma dictates to the Deep State (FDA, CDC, etc) who dictates to your doctor to only use THEIR drugs and thus enrich the insiders.
No concern if you have to pay for it all and not concern if you die. No concern that America collapses.
Corruption all around. Huge profits all around.
I wonder how many more virus will Dr. Quack oops Fauci pay the Wuhan lab to create?
For all we know, they’ve got a dozen more ready to go, to be unleashed At fauci’s whim.
fauci is a germ. So is congress the so called executive branch the courts the medical profession. ALL of them are criminals
intent on as many people dying of covid as possible. If they did not have a hand in creating covid they certainly have in spreading it. Why is it with all the geriatric fascist imbecilic morons in congress none of them have died from this sickness ? It’s certainly not their so called vaccine (which does not prevent covid but does create new variants of it and spreads it even more) They have made themselves the gentry class for years, are they so protected ? At the same time telling so called doctors to NOT prescribe drugs known to stop covid. Not to mention the centers for disease creation and their unfathomable idiocy. This is no longer the United States of America it’s now Mexistan. They no longer serve America they serve Satan.
Especially when a # OF THEM HAVE came down with covid… Even after getting both shots!
Not to worry, gullible idiots!!! Phizer is coming out with a DAILY pill against covid!!! Now you can simply kill yourselves in an orgasmic overdose and be done with it and we can rid the world of STUPID and let the rest of us get on with our lives.
I’m betting it was originally called “My variant”. This clown used taxpayer money to pay for this virus development!!
HIS financing of that lab, ON ITS OWN, should land him in jail, for the rest of his natural life…