France Detects New Covid Variant ‘IHU’, 12 Infected

Paris: French researchers have detected a new Covid variant, probably of Cameroonian origin, and have temporarily named it as ‘IHU’. The new variant from the lineage named B.1.640.2 is believed to have infected 12 people in the country, according to a yet-to-be peer-reviewed study supported by the French Government. It has 46 mutations and 37 deletions.Also Read - WATCH: Stampede At Congress' Marathon Rally In Uttar Pradesh's Bareilly, Children Injured

“For twelve SARS-CoV-positive patients living in the same geographical area of southeastern France, qPCR testing that screen for variant-associated mutations showed an atypical combination,” said Philippe Colson, from IHU Mediterranee Infection, Marseille, France. However, “it is too early to speculate on virological, epidemiological or clinical features of this IHU variant based on these 12 cases,” Colson said. Also Read - Fact-Check: Will Dearness Allowance Of Central Government Employees, Pensioners Be Delayed Due To Omicron? Find Out Here

According to the study, the index case (the first patient) was a vaccinated adult who had returned to France from a trip to Cameroon, in central Africa. Three days after returning he developed mild respiratory symptoms. His nasopharyngeal sample collected mid-November 2021, “revealed an atypical combination that did not correspond to the pattern of the Delta variant involved in almost all SARS-CoV-2 infections at that time”, and later to Omicron as well, Colson said. Also Read - Viral Video: Mother Elephant & Calf Barge Into Police Station in Kerala, Damage Entrance | Watch