Coronavirus: WHO monitoring new mu variant

The World Health Organisation mentioned it was monitoring a brand new variant of the coronavirus named mu, the twelfth letter of the Greek alphabet.
Mu is scientifically referred to as B.1.621 and has been labeled as a “variant of interest,” the WHO mentioned in its weekly pandemic bulletin on Tuesday.
The international well being physique mentioned the variant has mutations that present a threat of resistance to COVID-19 vaccines, emphasising that additional research had been required to know it higher.
Since its detection, mu has been reported in South American international locations and in Europe.
Asia
South Korea on Wednesday mentioned it had secured 1.5 million doses of BioNTech-Pfizer and Moderna’s COVID-19 jabs from Romania.
Meanwhile, Japan’s Kanagawa prefecture mentioned it has discovered one other vial of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine thought to comprise a overseas substance. The prefecture mentioned a pharmacist discovered a number of black particles in a vial throughout a test for overseas substances earlier than the vaccine’s use. The prefecture mentioned it has put the remainder of the lot on maintain.
Last week, Japan had suspended using 1.63 million doses of Moderna vaccines after being knowledgeable of contamination in among the provided doses.
Moderna and Spanish pharmaceutical firm Rovi — which bottles Moderna photographs — have mentioned the trigger may very well be a producing challenge. Moderna additionally mentioned no security or efficacy points had been recognized because of the problem.
Europe
Germany on Wednesday reported 13,531 new circumstances of the coronavirus, in response to information revealed by the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious illnesses. The seven-day incidence price rose to 75.7 from 74.8 the day gone by.
Oceania
In the Australian state of Victoria, there was a spike in new, domestically acquired circumstances whilst the federal government prepares to increase a strict lockdown. The state on Wednesday recorded 120 new native circumstances of COVID-19 an infection, in opposition to 76 a day earlier.
Victoria was put underneath lockdown quickly after the primary case was discovered early in August. The measures had been resulting from come to an finish on Thursday, however the caseload has risen steadily over the past 4 weeks.
Americas
In the United States, the state of Idaho has activated the National Guard to assist with the surging coronavirus caseload.
Idaho Governor Brad Little made the announcement on Tuesday, including that he had directed as much as 370 extra individuals to help hospitals overwhelmed with unvaccinated COVID-19 sufferers within the state. There had been solely 4 intensive care unit beds vacant in your complete state on Tuesday out of a complete of 400 beds, Little mentioned in his assertion.