WHO says it is monitoring a new Covid variant called ‘mu’

World Health Organization monitoring new COVID-19 variant The World Health Organization added another COVID-19 variant of interest to its list of “variants of interest.” Monday, the WHO said it is now monitoring the development of the “Mu” variant. Tim Kephart WFTS

GENEVA, Switzerland — The World Health Organization added another COVID-19 variant of interest to its list of “variants of interest.” Monday, the WHO said it is now monitoring the development of the “Mu” variant.

The Mu variant, officially known as B.1.621, was first detected in January in the South American nation of Colombia. The Mu variant is one of five variants listed by the WHO as “variants of interest.” Other strains on the list include Eta, Iota, Kappa, and Lambda. A few of those strains, including Lambda, have already been reported in the United States. ...

The WHO’s list of variants of interest is the second-highest level measuring variants, behind only “variants of concern.” Variants in the highest level include Alpha, the initial variant, and the Delta variant, currently uncontrollably spreading in Florida and many other U.S. states. The Delta variant was identified as a variant of interest on April 4 and moved to a variant of concern by May 11. Still, not every variant moves from variants of interest to variants of concern.

The Mu variant is the only variant of interest on the list that had a first case reported in 2021. The UK Guardian reported the Mu variant has already been seen in the United States and accounts for nearly 40 percent of COVID cases in Colombia. ...