The World Health Organization said that it has identified a new variant of the virus known as “Mu”, reported AFP.
The variant, scientifically known as B.1.621, was first discovered in Colombia in January and has been classified by the global health body as a “variant of interest”.
In its weekly pandemic bulletin, the World Health Organization said it was monitoring the variant.
“The Mu variant has a constellation of mutations that indicate potential properties of immune escape,” the bulletin said, adding that further studies were needed to better understand the mutation.
The WHO currently identifies four Covid-19 variants of concern, including Alpha, which is present in 193 countries, and Delta, present in 170 countries.
Five variants, including Mu, are to be monitored.
Coronavirus pandemic has killed more than 4.5 million people and infected over 218 million globally.
