Amid Omicron COVID-19 variant spreading like wildfire and leading to surge of infections across the globe, a new variant has been discovered in France, according to researchers.
The variant, called B.1.640.2 and dubbed the IHU variant, is said to have infected 12 people in France so far.
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According to a research paper published by scientists at Méditerranée Infection University Hospital Institute (IHU) in France, the new variant was detected in early December in a traveler who returned to France from Cameroon.
The paper reads;
The index case was an adult first diagnosed as infected with SARS-CoV-2 by real-time reverse transcription PCR (qPCR) performed in a private medical biology laboratory on a nasopharyngeal sample collected mid-November 2021.
He was vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 and returned from a travel to Cameroon three days before. He developed mild respiratory symptoms the day before diagnosis. He lives in a small town of southeastern France.
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French researchers say the new variant contains 46 mutations which may make it more resistant to vaccines and more transmissible.
This new mutant has 46 mutations in an “atypical combination,” according to a preprint study that has not yet been peer-reviewed.
According to this study, the two already known spike protein mutations N501Y and E484K are also found in the new coronavirus variant.
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The N501Y mutation, for example, was detected very early in the alpha variant. It causes the pathogen to bind more strongly to human cells and thus to spread more easily in the body.
E484K is one of the escape mutations located directly in the spike protein and thus possibly reduces the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines.
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The study has, however, not been peer-reviewed, which means it has not been evaluated by professionals working in the same field.
While the new strain has not been detected in other countries, World Health Organisation (WHO) has also not put it on any strains’ list.
Reacting to news of the variant at a media briefing on Tuesday, Abdi Mahamud, a WHO incident manager, said the new variant hasn’t become much of a threat since it was first identified in November.
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He said the variant “has been on our radar”, adding that the “virus had a lot of chances to pick up”.
As of November 2021, WHO has identified seven major COVID variants — Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, Omicron, Lambda, and Mu.
The most recent variant, Omicron — labelled a “variant of concern” — was detected by South African authorities in November.
Sadly, Delta and Omicron variants have been linked to high infection rate across the world.
