The European Medicines Agency (EMA) said on Thursday that the coronavirus strain Mu could be a cause for concern, although there is no evidence that it can compete with the delta variant.
“Mu” was first identified in January in Colombia. The scientific name of the species is B.1.621. The World Health Organization (WHO) this month recognized “Mu” as a form of interest.
EZA, which focuses mainly on the highly contagious delta variant, is also studying other strains, including the identified coronavirus strain Lambda and Mu, said Marko Cavaleri, EZA’s Head of Biological Health Risks and Vaccines Strategy.
He said Mu was a bigger concern because it could be resistant to vaccine-induced immunity.
EZA will discuss with vaccine manufacturers the effectiveness of current vaccines against Mu, Cavaleri said.
However, he pointed out that there were currently no data showing a widespread use of “Mu” and that it was not clear whether this type could compete with the delta type.
All viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, which causes Covid-19, mutate over time. Most mutations do not have much effect, but there are variants that affect the properties of the virus, such as how contagious it is, how severe the disease is caused, and the resistance to vaccines.
The WHO has currently identified four strains of coronavirus as a cause for concern, including the alpha variant, which is prevalent in 193 countries, and the delta variant, which is prevalent in 170 countries.
Five types, including “Mu”, are observed.-
Mu, which was first discovered in Colombia, has spread to other South American countries and has also been found in Europe.
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