A new coronavirus variant known as “Mu,” identified first in Colombia in January, is now the country’s predominant strain and behind its deadliest pandemic wave yet, a health official said Thursday.
The variant was responsible for Colombia’s deadly third infection wave between April and June, health official Marcela Mercado told a local radio station. During this period, with about 700 deaths per day, nearly two-thirds of tests from people who died came back positive for the Mu variant, she said.
“It is already in more than 43 countries and has shown high contagiousness,” she added. On Tuesday, the World Health Organization declared Mu, scientific name B.1.621, a “variant of interest.”It said the variant has mutations that indicate a risk of resistance to vaccines and further studies were needed to better understand it.
“The Mu variant has a constellation of mutations that indicate potential properties of immune escape,” the agency said.
There is widespread concern over the…