by Zohra Rangwala
The IHU coronavirus variant (B.1.640.2) was identified in Southeast France, which predates Omicron and similarly has multiple mutations but has not yet taken off globally in the same way.
The variant was discovered last year and has been seen to be limited to small numbers of people in differing places. In southeastern France, 12 people were infected according to a non-peer reviewed study before Christmas. However, some cases have been detected in Canada, suggesting the slow but steady spread of this ‘variant of interest’. Studies claim that individuals developed similar respiratory symptoms.
However, data shows this new variant to be less concerning than Omicron as we know it now due to its inability to spread as rapidly and its milder symptoms. Scientists push to not worry about the IHU variant as of yet, classing it as a ‘variant of interest’ rather than a ‘variant of concern’ like the Beta, Gamma, Delta, and Omicron variants.
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