Kathmandu, January 4
A new variant of Covid-19 has been found in France. French scientists have recently discovered a new variant of the Covid-19 in the Marseilles area. 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, according to NZHerald.com.
According to the news, the IHU variant is believed to be connected with the trip from the
African country Cameroon. Experts have expressed concern that this variant could circumvent the existing Covid-19 vaccine, 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 even unconfirmed claims that this variant has entered the UK.
A research paper posted online last month details IHU. According to the research paper, the
IHU variant first appeared in a man returning from Cameroon in November. But the research paper has not yet been published in any medical journal.
It is unknown at this time what he will do after leaving the post. Even the World Health
Organization has not included the IHU variant in its scope of research.
By Karuna Thapa
