'Mu' variant has been detected in EVERY US state except Nebraska: Scientists fear it is more transmissible than Delta and could be vaccine resistant
- The Mu variant has been detected in 49 U.S. states, with the exception of Nebraska
- Florida and California have reported 384 cases - the highest of the other U.S. states
- Alaska previously had the highest number of cases with 146, four percent of the state's sample size
- The new variant was warned to be more transmissible and vaccine resistant, according to the World Health Organization
- Variant cases have reportedly declined since mid-July
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9964415/Mu-variant-detected-U-S-state-except-Nebraska.html
What is the variant 'Mu' or B.1.621?
Where have the cases been detected?
This mutant strain was first spotted in Colombia in January.
It has since spread to more than 40 countries including the UK, US, France, Japan and Canada.
Is it increasing in prevalence?
There have been 4,000 cases detected to date, but this is thought to be an underestimate because many countries that have suffered outbreaks do very little surveillance for variants.
The number of cases blamed on the variant declined globally last month, amid the spread of the Delta strain.
In Colombia — where it was first detected — it is still behind around six in ten infections.
Can the strain dodge vaccine triggered immunity?
The variant carries the mutation E484K, which can help it escape antibodies.
This change is also found on the South African 'Beta' variant and Brazilian 'Gamma' variant.
A PHE study previously suggested it could make vaccines less effective. But UK health chiefs said more research was needed.
