“Mu” variant, first case detected in Japan: first case in Colombia
The new variant, ‘mu’, of the coronavirus has been identified for the first time in Colombia
Mu variant in Japan, Health Ministry confirms
The ‘Mu’ variant of the Covid-19 coronavirus, first identified in Colombia, has been isolated for the first time in Japan in two women returning from the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom respectively, according to the Health Ministry in a statement.
The detection of the variant in the two women, already confirmed in July but only now made public by health authorities, took place at Tokyo Narita International Airport.
Both women appear asymptomatic.
The Mu variant for the WHO:
According to the WHO, Mu has mutations that have the potential to evade the immunity provided by a previous Covid-19 infection or vaccination.
“‘Mu’ – also known to scientists as B.1.621 – was added to the WHO’s list of variants ‘of interest’ on 30 August.
The variant contains genetic mutations that indicate that natural immunity, current vaccines or monoclonal antibody treatments may not work as well against it as they do against the original virus, the WHO said, but also pointed out that this variant requires further studies to assess whether these hypotheses can be confirmed and whether this mutation will prove more contagious than those known so far.
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