Coronavirus digest: WHO monitoring new mu variant

The World Health Organization said it was monitoring a new variant of the coronavirus named mu, the 12th letter of the Greek alphabet.

Mu is scientifically known as B.1.621 and has been classified as a "variant of interest," the WHO said in its weekly pandemic bulletin on Tuesday.

The global health body said the variant has mutations that show a risk of resistance to COVID-19 vaccines, emphasizing that further studies were required to understand it better.

Since its detection, mu has been reported in South American countries and in Europe.

Asia

South Korea on Wednesday said it had secured 1.5 million doses of BioNTech-Pfizer and Moderna's COVID-19 jabs from Romania.

Meanwhile, Japan's Kanagawa prefecture said it has found another vial of Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine thought to contain a foreign substance.

The prefecture said a pharmacist found several black particles in a vial during a check for foreign substances before the vaccine's use.

The prefecture said it has put the rest of the lot on hold.

Last week, Japan had suspended the use of 1.63 million doses of Moderna vaccines after being informed of contamination in some of the supplied doses.

Moderna and Spanish pharmaceutical company Rovi — which bottles Moderna shots — have said the cause could be a manufacturing issue.

Moderna also said no safety or efficacy issues had been identified from the issue.

Europe

Germany on Wednesday reported 13,531 new cases of the coronavirus, according to data published by the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases. The seven-day incidence rate rose to 75.7 from 74.8 the previous day.

Oceania

In the Australian state of Victoria, there has been a spike in new locally acquired cases even as the government prepares to extend a strict lockdown. The state on Wednesday recorded 120 new local cases of COVID-19 infection as against 76 a day earlier.

Victoria was put under a lockdown soon after the first case was found early in August and the measures were due to come to an end on Thursday but the caseload has risen steadily over the last four weeks.

Americas

In the United States, the state of Idaho has activated the National Guard to help with the surging coronavirus caseload.

Idaho Governor Brad Little made the announcement on Tuesday adding that he had directed up to 370 additional people to assist hospitals in the state that are overwhelmed with unvaccinated COVID-19 patients.

There were only four intensive care unit beds vacant in the entire state on Tuesday out of a total of 400 beds, Little said in his statement.

Source: DW