Facts About Mu COVID-19 Variant: What you need to know – HuffPost

Mu is the newest coronavirus strain which preliminary research data suggests can evade vaccine efficacy.

Dallas, TX - The World Health Organization has warned that the Mu coronavirus variant has potential properties of immune escape. This is according to the recent report published in The Huffington Post. The preliminary data suggests that the mu variant has the capability of evading certain antibodies.

According to the HuffPost report, the WHO points to some preliminary data that suggest the mu variant can evade specific antibodies.

“The group points to some preliminary data that suggest the mu variant is capable of evading certain antibodies, although it cautions that preliminary data need to be replicated before anyone jumps to any conclusions about mu overpowering our current vaccines. Fauci recently echoed that sentiment, noting that the data that suggests mu might pose a threat to vaccine efficacy is “mostly laboratory, in vitro data,” wrote Catherine Pearson of The Huffington Post.

Despite this looming threat, vaccine manufacturers such as Moderna, Pfizer, and Johnson & Johnson continue to hold up well against all of the various variants health officials are tracking.

Pearson wrote: “The New York Times recently reported that the chance of breakthrough cases among people who are fully vaccinated are about 1 in 5,000.”

To get protected from the mu variant, getting a vaccination is still very important.

“Getting vaccinated remains the most important thing people can do to protect themselves against the mu variant, and it also helps protect those who are not eligible for vaccination yet, like children,” Pearson wrote.

It is also necessary to observe the minimum health protocol set by the CDC.

“It also remains critically important to follow the most recent public health guidance about preventive measures such as wearing masks in indoor public settings — even if you’re fully vaccinated and in an area of substantial transmission. That is the vast majority of the country right now.”

The CDC also emphasizes the need always to wear masks when riding public transportation and always observe social distancing.

The mu variant was first discovered in Colombia last January 2021. As of this writing, it has already been found in 39 countries. The WHO has already identified it as a “variant of interest.”

The HuffPost report notes that from a global perspective, the mu variant is still relatively rare.

“The mu variant makes up less than 0.1% of sequenced COVID-19 cases around the world — although its prevalence in some countries has been consistently increasing. Mu makes up 39% of cases that have been subject to genomic sequencing in Colombia and 13% in Ecuador.”

Reference article

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/mu-covid-19-variant_l_61376bb1e4b0aac9c01bf4fc