The World Health Organization is monitoring another coronavirus variant, one that could be more resistant to vaccines.
The agency added the mu variant to its list of “variants of interest” on Monday.
The mu variant “has a constellation of mutations that indicate potential properties of immune escape,” the WHO said in its weekly bulletin.
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Also known as B.1.621, mu was first identified in Colombia in January of this year. It has spread to 39 countries, according to GISAID, including the United States. Over 2,000 cases of COVID-19 involving mu have been identified in the U.S., although in the last month it has accounted for only 0.3% of new cases.
The WHO noted that although the variant accounts for less than 0.1% of sequenced cases worldwide, “the prevalence in Colombia (39%) and Ecuador (13%) has consistently increased.”
Mu’s inclusion on the list of variants of interest means that the WHO believes the variant could affect transmissibility, severity of disease, and resistance to immunity or treatment. It also means that mu has caused significant community transmission in multiple countries.
A virus strain ends up on the more serious “variants of concern” list if the WHO identifies it as one that has reduced the effectiveness of public health measures or has demonstrated a resistance to vaccines and treatments.
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The delta strain, which is currently surging in the U.S., is also listed as a variant of concern.
