The world is yet to come to terms with all the variants the coronavirus has had so far, with the latest one called Omicron has terrorized the world. There has been a dreaded discovery of a new variant named IHU in France.
Omicron has increased the number of Corona cases all over the world specifically the western countries. Scientists have identified a new and more mutated strain than the Omicron virus in France that has been named IHU. It is a B.1.640.2 variant that was discovered by scientists at institute IHU Mediteranee Infection. It has been reported by the researchers that the variant contains 46 mutations which are significantly higher than the Omicron and is also much more resistant to the vaccines that have been developed to treat the Coronavirus so far. It is also said to be more infectious than all the variants as of now.
Some tests have also shown that the strain also carries the same mutation which was first noticed in the Alpha variant called the N501Y mutation which makes this strain more transmissible than the Omicron as well. It also carries the E484K mutation which makes it less resistant to the vaccines made.
Twelve new cases of the new virus have been reported so far near Marseilles and it is also being linked to Cameroon, the African country. Omicron has been dominating European countries like Portugal and the United Kingdom where the cases have surged rapidly over the past few days. Public Health Agency of France reported that around 62.4 percent of tests have shown compatibility to the Omicron variant of COVID. The Health Minister of France also quoted that the tidal wave had arrived but they will deal with it without panicking.
Although the dominant virus in most countries after overtaking the Delta variant is the Omicron, the IHU is also said to be increasing rapidly. The IHU or B.1.640.2 has not been detected in other countries except France and it is yet to be labeled under the WHO (World Health Organisation).
The Coronavirus has been spreading like a wildfire across the world and it seems like that the situation will get much worse considering the fact that new variants are being identified at an alarming rate. French scientists have rung the bell hopefully in time. US epidemiologist and health economist, Eric Feigl- Ding has said via Twitter that new variants are discovered all the time but that does not mean that they are more dangerous. This newly discovered variant, however, has the ability to multiply rapidly because a number of mutations in this one have a relation to the original virus.
It is being called the variant of concern and it is yet to be seen how this variant will be categorized but for now the danger is looming over all of us.
