COVID-19, stop! We beg you.
France has detected yet another COVID-19 variant: this time, it has already proliferated into 46 mutations, which is said to be more vaccine-resistant infectious than the original version of COVID-19 (remember that?). For now, it currently goes by the name B.1.640.2 or ”variant IHU“ and originated from the African country Cameroon.
So far, 12 cases have been reported near Marseilles, which were detected back on December 10th, 2021, and the variant hasn't spread rapidly since, although experts are not eliminating the possibility that it may have reached the UK.
NEW VARIANTFrench scientists have rung the bell after discovering a cluster 12 cases of a variant of atypical combination with **46 mutations & 37 deletions** in southern France after index case returned from Cameroondubbed #B16402. #COVID19 https:/ /t.co/SHXCbnkQUr pic.twitter.com/UwdL2hSW5g
However, good news: according to experts, it's nowhere near as aggressive as the Omicron, or even the Delta variant. As of this moment, researchers at The Méditerranée Infection University Hospital Institute (IHU), (who are also the team that first discovered it,) are currently doing extensive research. So far, it's too early to conclude the severity of this variant.
US epidemiologist and health economist Eric Feigl-Ding said that COVID-19 will inevitably be constantly detected, but it doesn't necessarily mean that they will be more dangerous than the previous one.
Let's hope this new variant is as tame as they say.
