loader image
Saturday, April 26, 2025
75.6 F
McAllen
We Welcome your Press Release
- Advertisement -

WHO tracking new COVID variant called Mu

Translate to Spanish or other 102 languages!

A woman gets vaccinated against COVID-19 in Bogotá, Colombia. Photo: Sebastian Barros/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Mega Doctor News

- Advertisement -

The World Health Organization added a coronavirus strain called Mu, which was first detected in Colombia in January, to its “Variants of Interest” list on Monday.

Why it matters: The WHO warned that data suggests protection from prior infection or vaccination may not be as strong against the Mu variant, adding that further research is needed to confirm that.

The big picture: The Mu variant, formally known as B.1.621, has a cluster of mutations that “that indicate potential properties of immune escape,” WHO noted in its weekly epidemiological report.

  • The variant has thus far been detected in 39 countries. Although it makes up only 0.1% of global COVID-19 cases, its prevalence in South America has been rising, and it currently makes up 39% of cases in Colombia and 13% in Ecuador.
    Be smart: The WHO defines Variants of Interest as having genetic changes that affect virus characteristics like transmissibility, disease severity and immune escape, while having significant community transmission.
  • They differ from Variants of Concern, which lower the effectiveness of public health and social measures or diagnostics and therapeutics. 
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -

- Advertisement -

More Articles

STHS ​Heart’s Special Flag-Raising Ceremony for National Donate Life Month, April 30th

Mega Doctor News Making all the difference for individuals who have life-threatening conditions that impair...

RGV Boxing Champions Bring Excitement to STHS Pediatric Patients

Mega Doctor News Designed to provide the medical attention necessary to heal...

Shattered Dreams Project at Rivera Early College High School

Mega Doctor News BROWNSVILLE, Texas - As the month of April is “Distracted...

College of Pharmacy Expands Program to McAllen to Address Shortage of Pharmacy Technicians

Mega Doctor News Texas A&M University’s Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy is responding...
- Advertisement -
×