A new variant of Covid-19 has been found in France. French scientists have recently discovered a new variant of the Covid-19 in Marseille. Researchers at the Mediterranean Infection University Hospital Institute (IHU) have identified the new variant as IHU or 'B1640.2'.
So far, 12 people have been confirmed infected with the IHU variant, and some of those infected have been hospitalized.
The IHU variant is believed to be linked to a trip from the African country Cameroon. Experts have expressed concern that this variant could circumvent the existing Covid-19 vaccines, which has been mutated 46 times.
The news also mentions that the IHU variant did not spread as fast as Omicron. So far this variant has not spread except in France. But there are unconfirmed claims that this variant has entered the UK.
The IHU variant first appeared in a man returning from Cameroon in November, according to a research paper. But the research paper has not yet been published in any medical journal.
It is unknown at this time whether this variant can evade vaccine's immunity, or spread like omicron. Even the World Health Organization has not included the IHU variant in its scope of research yet.
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