WHO added the Mu or B.1.621 variant as a variant of interest (VOI) on August 30, 2021. It is known that the Mu variant was first identified in Colombia in January 2021.
WHO revealed that this variant makes up less than 0.1 percent of Covid-19 infections globally. That figure is expected to start growing in Colombia and Ecuador, where they account for 39 percent and 13 percent of Covid-19 cases, respectively.
“Mu variant has a constellation of mutations that indicate the nature of the potential for escape of immunity,”
WHO SAID ON TUESDAY (AUGUST 31, 2021) QUOTED BY AFP.
Mu variant can show itself to be more resistant to the vaccine, as well as variants of Beta were first discovered in South Africa.
However, further research is still needed whether the Mu variant is more infectious, more lethal, or requires more treatment than other variants or the Covid-19 virus that was first discovered.
As additional information, the Mu variant is the fifth Covid-19 virus’ variant which is classified as a VOI.
The other four VOIs include the Eta variant, first detected in several countries in December 2020. The Iota variant was first identified in the US in November 2020. The Kappa variant was first detected in India in October 2020, and the lambda variant was first detected in Peru in December 2020.
Quoted from liputan6, all viruses, including SARS-CoV-2 that causes Covid-19, mutate over time and most mutations have little or no effect on the nature of the virus.