As COVID-19 continues its course, you’ve likely already heard about the COVID-19 Delta variant. These Greek letter names, however, haven’t stopped at Delta, and if you’ve been watching the news, you may have also heard of the Mu variant. This variant has been noted much less frequently in the United States, but it’s still a variant you might want to pay attention to. Here are the four most important points to know about the Mu variant.
1. It’s Considered a “Variant of Interest” and “Variant Being Monitored”
Depending on the health authority you look at, the classification of the Mu variant may be slightly different. In the WHO variant tracking, which is worldwide, it’s considered a “Variant of Interest,” while in the CDC variant tracking, which is more about the United States alone, it’s considered the less-serious Variant Being Monitored. While this variant has clearly had an impact on many other countries, it’s had a significantly less intense impact on the United States.
2. It’s Become Very Common in Many Latin and South American Countries
The reason the WHO considers the Mu variant a Variant of Interest is because it’s had a pretty intense impact on many Latin and South American countries. In Colombia, for example, where the variant was first identified in January, it has become the dominant variant of the country. It has been detected in over 50 countries, but the majority of those countries are in the Western hemisphere.
3. The Delta Variant Has Mostly Kept It From Spreading in America
The Delta variant, which is currently responsible for the majority of cases in the United States, may be at least partially responsible for the fact that the Mu variant has been responsible for only a few thousand cases in the United States at large, with its prevalence slowly declining since July. Because the Delta variant seems to be significantly more transmissible than the Mu variant, it hasn’t been able to get much of a foothold in areas where the Delta variant is predominant.
4. Vaccination Is Still Effective, As With All Current Variants
Currently, there are no noted variants that have any significant impact on the efficacy of vaccinations. Though there are some laboratory tests that indicate that antibodies from a previous infection may be less helpful in defending against infection from Mu, the vaccine attacks in essentially the same way regardless of the variant. If you aren’t already, getting vaccinated can help you stay safe from Mu.
5. The CDC Has Recommended the Public Stay “Vigilant, But Not Fearful”
With all this information, you would be right in noting that it seems as though the Mu variant isn’t a big deal in the United States, at least not currently. Cases in the United States hit their peak in June, and ever since, the number of Mu cases in the United States has been consistently declining. It’s not necessary to be overly fearful about it, especially if you live in the United States. However, staying in touch with current events using the PeopleFinders blog can be a helpful way to stay in touch with updates on COVID-19 and more.
Conclusion
COVID-19 is still a real and present problem in the United States and worldwide. The Mu variant is just one more of many variants that have posed problems around the world. Like the other variants, however, the best way to avoid it is to get vaccinated and stay safe in other ways, including avoiding going out with large groups of unvaccinated people. Staying safe is everyone’s goal during the COVID-19 pandemic, after all.
Image Attribution: jarun011 – stock.adobe.com
