WHO warn over stalled vaccinations as European Covid cases soar

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The World Health Organization is monitoring a new coronavirus variant known as “Mu”, amid concerns that it has mutations that suggest it is more resistant to vaccines. In a weekly pandemic bulletin, the UN agency said Mu – known scientifically as B.1.621 – has now been designated as a “variant of interest”.

Where did the Mu variant originate?

The Mu variant was first detected in January this year in Colombia.

Since then, prevalence has “consistently increased” and the WHO said it comprises 39 percent of sequenced infections.

Rates are also rising in neighbouring Ecuador, where Mu is thought to make up 13 percent of cases.

But globally, the variant’s prevalence has actually declined and it only makes up less than 0.1 percent of sequenced infections.

So far more than 4,500 cases from 39 different countries have been uploaded to Gisaid, a scientific international database which tracks variants.

However, the WHO warned: “Reported prevalence should be interpreted with due consideration of sequencing capacities and timeliness of sharing of sequences”, which vary considerably across the world.

Mu was added to the Public Health England’s list of variants under investigation in July this year.

What are the symptoms of Mu?

For now, the Mu variant seems to have the same symptoms as other coronavirus variants – cough, high temperature, loss of taste and/or smell.

Some variants have varied in their symptoms, leading to different types of coughs or other added symptoms – but there is not enough data on the MU variant to know this yet.

The transmissibility of the variant is also unknown at this stage.

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Can Mu evade vaccines?

There is not enough known about the variant currently to determine whether it is able to escape prior infection immunity or vaccine immunity.

However, the WHO report reads: “The Mu variant has a constellation of mutations.”

The report adds that preliminary data suggests Mu could be capable of evading antibodies, though the finding needs to be confirmed by further research.

Is Mu in the UK?

At least 32 cases of the Mu variant have been detected in the UK so far.

The pattern of infections suggests it was brought in by travellers on multiple occasions.

A report by PHE in July said most were found in London and were people in their 20s

Some of those testing positive for Mu had also received one or two doses of Covid vaccine – but there have been no known deaths from Mu in the UK.

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