Beautiful Virgin Islands

Saturday, Sep 06, 2025

Why Has WHO Designated 'Mu' A Variant Of Concern? Find Out All About It

Why Has WHO Designated 'Mu' A Variant Of Concern? Find Out All About It

The possible resistance of this variant makes it risky for the global population.

Following the devastating second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in India, the world paid attention to a new variant of the coronavirus. Named Delta, it was blamed for the rapid surge in cases in April-May this year. Now, the World Health Organization (WHO) has said it was monitoring the spread of another variant of interest — Mu. It was first identified in Colombia in January and has since infected people in South America and Europe. Mu's possible resistance to vaccines is what makes it risky for the global population. Now, the WHO has said that more research was needed to better understand its behaviour.

With the latest addition, there are five variants of interest for the WHO — Eta, Iota, Kappa, Lambda, and Mu.

Mutations in viruses are not new. All viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, undergo change over time. Most of these changes are inconsequential, but some can alter properties to make these viruses more virulent or escape the treatment or vaccines.

What is Mu?


Scientifically known as B.1.621, the WHO designated Mu a variant of interest on August 30, because it might have immune escape properties. It also means WHO considers it worthy of special monitoring but it is still less of a potential threat than the Delta or Alpha strains. Delta and Alpha are more dangerous due to their increased virulence. Mu is not yet widespread across the globe. Its presence of 39 per cent in Colombia and 13 per cent in Ecuador makes it potentially risky.

What does the WHO say?


There have been a few sporadic reports of cases of the Mu variant. Some larger outbreaks have been reported from South America and Europe. Although the global prevalence of the Mu has declined and is currently below 0.1 per cent, the prevalence in Colombia and Ecuador has consistently increased, said the global health body in its weekly update.

What is a variant of interest?


A variant with genetic mutations that affect or can affect the virus's characteristics, such as transmissibility, the severity of the disease it can cause, immune escape, etc is called a variant of interest.

How is it different from the variant of concern?


After meeting the definition of a variant of interest, if it shows increased transmissibility or detrimental change in COVID-19 epidemiology, it is designated a variant of concern. Also, if it is associated with a decrease in the effectiveness of public health and social measures or available diagnostics, vaccines, therapeutics, it is a variant of concern, says the WHO.

How are variants named?


The scientific community uses an established system of nomenclature for naming and tracking new variants of a virus. WHO convened a group of scientists, other experts, and agencies to consider easy-to-pronounce and non-stigmatising labels. The experts recommended using letters of the Greek Alphabet – Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta – for now to designate the variants of SARS-CoV-2.

Mu is the 12th letter of the Greek alphabet.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Trump Threatens Retaliatory Tariffs After EU Imposes €2.95 Billion Fine on Google
Tesla Board Proposes Unprecedented One-Trillion-Dollar Performance Package for Elon Musk
US Justice Department Launches Criminal Mortgage-Fraud Probe into Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook
Escalating Drug Trafficking and Violence in Latin America: A Growing Crisis
US and Taiwanese Defence Officials Held Secret Talks in Alaska
Report: Secret SEAL Team 6 Mission in North Korea Ordered by Trump in 2019 Ended in Failure
Gold Could Reach Nearly $5,000 if Fed Independence Is Undermined, Goldman Sachs Warns
Uruguay, Colombia and Paraguay Secure Places at 2026 World Cup
Florida Murder Case: The Adelson Family, the Killing of Dan Markel, and the Trial of Donna Adelson
Trump Administration Advances Plans to Rebrand Pentagon as Department of War Instead of the Fake Term Department of Defense
Big Tech Executives Laud Trump at White House Dinner, Unveil Massive U.S. Investments
Tether Expands into Gold Sector with Profit-Driven Diversification
‘Looks Like a Wig’: Online Users Express Concern Over Kate Middleton
Brand-New $1 Million Yacht Sinks Just Fifteen Minutes After Maiden Launch in Turkey
Here’s What the FBI Seized in John Bolton Raid — and the Legal Risks He Faces
Florida’s Vaccine Revolution: DeSantis Declares War on Mandates
Trump’s New War – and the ‘Drug Tyrant’ Fearing Invasion: ‘1,200 Missiles Aimed at Us’
"The Situation Has Never Been This Bad": The Fall of PepsiCo
At the Parade in China: Laser Weapons, 'Eagle Strike,' and a Missile Capable of 'Striking Anywhere in the World'
The Fashion Designer Who Became an Italian Symbol: Giorgio Armani Has Died at 91
Putin Celebrates ‘Unprecedentedly High’ Ties with China as Gazprom Seals Power of Siberia-2 Deal
China Unveils New Weapons in Grand Military Parade as Xi Hosts Putin and Kim
Queen Camilla’s Teenage Courage: Fended Off Attempted Assault on London Train, New Biography Reveals
Scottish Brothers Set Record in Historic Pacific Row
Rapper Cardi B Cleared of Liability in Los Angeles Civil Assault Trial
Google Avoids Break-Up in U.S. Antitrust Case as Stocks Rise
Couple celebrates 80th wedding anniversary at assisted living facility in Lancaster
Information Warfare in the Age of AI: How Language Models Become Targets and Tools
The White House on LinkedIn Has Changed Their Profile Picture to Donald Trump
"Insulted the Prophet Muhammad": Woman Burned Alive by Angry Mob in Niger State, Nigeria
Trump Responds to Death Rumors – Announces 'Missile City'
Court of Appeal Allows Asylum Seekers to Remain at Essex Hotel Amid Local Tax Boycott Threats
Germany in Turmoil: Ukrainian Teenage Girl Pushed to Death by Illegal Iraqi Migrant
United Krack down on human rights: Graham Linehan Arrested at Heathrow Over Three X Posts, Hospitalised, Released on Bail with Posting Ban
Asian and Middle Eastern Investors Avoid US Markets
Ray Dalio Warns of US Shift to Autocracy
Eurozone Inflation Rises to 2.1% in August
Russia and China Sign New Gas Pipeline Deal
China's Robotics Industry Fuels Export Surge
Suntory Chairman Resigns After Police Probe
Gold Price Hits New All-Time Record
Von der Leyen's Plane Hit by Suspected Russian GPS Interference in an Incident Believed to Be Caused by Russia or by Pro-Peace or by Anti-Corruption European Activists
UK Fintechs Explore Buying US Banks
Greece Suspends 5% of Schools as Birth Rate Drops
Apollo to Launch $5 Billion Sports Investment Vehicle
Bolsonaro Trial Nears Close Amid US-Brazil Tension
European Banks Push for Lower Cross-Border Barriers
Poland's Offshore Wind Sector Attracts Investors
Nvidia Reveals: Two Mystery Customers Account for About 40% of Revenue
Woody Allen: "I Would Be Happy to Direct Trump Again in a Film"
×