WHO WARNED: 8 QUESTIONS TO ASK ABOUT MU VARIANT

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WHO WARNED: HERE ARE 8 QUESTIONS TO ASK ABOUT MU VARIANT

The World Health Organization (who) has added a new version of coronavirus to its list of variants. His Name Is B.1.621 also known as ‘ Mu ‘ variant… as dangerous as it is, in which countries is it seen, is it more resistant to vaccines, has it been seen in our country?

The World Health Organization (who) has added a new version of coronavirus to its list of variants. The first ‘intriguing’ Variant added to the list since June is B.Variant of ‘Mu’, also known as 1.621…

It was added to the WHO’s watch list on August 30 after being detected in 40 countries. B.The Mu variant, also known as 1.621, had been announced as a “closely monitored” variant, corresponding to the low alert level. He has now identified it as a variant of interest, the second highest level in the variant classification.

The WHO’s Epidemiology Report says preliminary data show Mu appears to be more resistant to antibodies.

Preliminary data suggests MU may evade immune defenses in a similar way to the Beta variant discovered in South Africa, but this information needs to be verified by further study.

Currently, WHO defines Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta variants as the highest classification as variables of concern.

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1 – WHAT EXACTLY IS THE MU VARIANT?

12 of the Greek alphabet. B 1.621, named by the letter Mu. a new variant virus characterized by gene sequencing was shared with the public. The Mu variant, listed by the WHO as one of five variants of interest, is seen as less of a potential problem than the Delta or Alpha variant strains of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, called variants of concern, although it does fall on the special tracking radar.

A study of the Mu variant genome sequence found both new mutations seen in earlier variants and new mutations seen for the first time. Thus, although who has not yet included it in the worrying variant category at the moment, it is considered a potential threat element and 5 in the list of variants received monitoring that requires interest. ordinary included.

The Mu variant is the first of interest to be added to the list since June, when the Lambda variant was included in the list.

Ankara City Hospital Emergency Medicine Clinic Education Officer Prof. Dr. “for this variant, the WHO also mentioned the possibility of avoiding immune system antibodies. As of now, we do not yet have enough clinical data to speak clearly about this. In fact, since the variant that has existed for 9 months has not yet gained the upper hand against the globally dominant delta variant, the alarming variant has not been included in the virus category and distracts us from the worst-case scenario.” said.

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2 – WHEN DID IT APPEAR AND IN WHICH COUNTRIES IS IT SEEN?

The Mu variant was first detected in Colombia in January 2021 and accounts for about 40% of cases in the country, according to the who. The mutation has so far been detected in at least 40 countries but accounts for less than 0.1% of all cases worldwide, the organization said.

Beyond South America, cases have been reported in the UK, Europe, the US and Hong Kong. The variant now accounts for less than 0.1 percent of Covid-19 infections globally. Ecuador also has gained ground here, accounting for 13 percent of cases. The WHO stressed that the prevalence of the variant is constantly on the rise.

Prof. Dr. said that this variant has been circulating and showing activity in the world for 9 months and in close to 40 countries, but currently the Delta variant is still seen as the dominant variant of a global pandemic.

Currently, it continues to spread in some way, both in South American countries, as well as in countries such as the United Kingdom, Italy, France, Spain.

At least 32 cases of the Mu variant have been identified in the UK to date. A report by Public Health England (PHE) in July said the majority of cases were in people living in London and in their 20s. It is also reported that some of those who tested positive for Mu had one or two doses of Covid-19 vaccine.

In the US, health authorities told The New York Post that this variant accounted for about 10 percent of the positive cases studied in the University of Miami’s pathology lab.

It was announced that 7 people who stayed in a nursing home in Belgium and had received two doses of the vaccine died due to the Mu variant. 21 people and some employees who stayed in the same nursing home also had a variant of Mu, but these people were reported to have mild illness.

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3 – SHOULD WE WORRY ABOUT THE MU VARIANT? WHAT IS THE EFFECT ON THE VARIANT OF THE VACCINE?

It remains unclear how contagious the Mu variant is or whether it is resistant to vaccines, but the WHO, in its regular weekly report, said ‘B. ‘ was first detected in Colombia in January this year.He noted the 1,621’ variant. The report highlighted that the coronavirus variant, called the’ Mu variant’, may be a vaccine-resistant variant.

Prof. Dr. noted that it is extremely unclear how much threat the Mu variant poses, and it depends on whether cases will increase significantly in the coming weeks and months, especially in the presence of the rapidly spreading Delta variant.

“There is no evidence that the global prevalence of Mu among Covid-19 cases is below 0.1% and currently outpaces the Delta variant,” said, adding that he considered it unlikely that this variant would be more contagious.

A risk assessment report on the Mu variant, published by Public Health England (PHE) in August, highlighted laboratory work showing that the variant is at least as resistant to immunity from vaccination as the Beta variant. But he said more evidence was needed than other laboratory studies and real-world cases of the variant.

In summary, how much threat the variant poses is extremely unclear and depends on whether cases will increase significantly in the coming weeks and months, especially in the presence of the rapidly spreading Delta variant.

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4 – ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF THE MU VARIANT DIFFERENT?

Turkish doctor noted that changes in fever height, coughing fits and smell-taste are common in the MU variant clinic, and a different clinical finding than other variants has not been reported at this time.

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5 – HOW CAN WE PROTECT OURSELVES FROM THE MU VARIANT?

Prof. Dr. “lack of vaccines can be seen as an element of risk. In this sense, they are not vaccinated, those who have a missing dose of the vaccine, and supplements 3. those who do not have overdoses may be at risk,” he said, adding that by following existing individual measures and against this variant as a vaccine, we will also ensure our health.

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6 – IS THE MU VARIANT MORE RESISTANT TO THE VACCINE?

The WHO said the MU variant has mutations that suggest it may be more resistant to vaccines, but new studies and data will be needed to further examine this.

How contagious is the uncertainty that remains is that of the variant, more clinical data are needed for the effectiveness of the vaccines currently in use, however, that protects itself from the current vaccine escape variant yet in the category of what we call a variant that is not because it is the variant of existing vaccines that will be effective or believes.

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7 – HAS THE MU VARIANT BEEN SEEN IN OUR COUNTRY?

It is assumed that it has not been seen in our country, as there has not yet been an official explanation for the Mu virus.

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8 – WHAT OTHER VARIANTS ARE BEING FOLLOWED BY WHO?

The who is studying coronavirus variants by dividing them into two classes. These are classified as’ concern variants ‘and’ interest variants’. So far, four variants have made the list of worry variants. The Mu variant is the fifth variant listed by who as variants of interest.

All nine variants identified are named with a different letter of the Greek alphabet.

Variants of interest:

Eta was first detected in multiple countries in December 2020.

Lota was first identified in the US in November 2020.

Kappa was first identified in India in October 2020.

Lambda was first detected in Peru in December 2020.

Mu was first identified in Colombia in January 2021.

With four alarming variants thought to have the potential to make the pandemic worse, here are the following.

Alpha was first detected in the UK in September 2020. It has been seen in 193 countries.

Beta was first detected in South Africa in May 2020. It has been seen in 141 countries.

Gamma was first detected in Brazil in November 2020. Seen in 91 countries.

Delta was first detected in India in October 2020. It has been seen in 170 countries.

It is possible that the number of variants of SARS-CoV-2 will change over time because the more the virus spreads, the more opportunities it has for it to mutate. The more people vaccinated, the less susceptible hosts will be where the virus can live and undergo this evolution and acquire these traits.

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President of Organ Transplant Center at MedicalPark Hospital Antalya

Turkey's world-renowned organ transplant specialist. Dr. Demirbaş has 104 international publications and 102 national publications.

Physician's Resume:

Born on August 7, 1963 in Çorum, Prof. Dr. Alper Demirbaş has been continuing his work as the President of MedicalPark Antalya Hospital Organ Transplantation Center since 2008.

Prof. who performed the first tissue incompatible kidney transplant in Turkey, the first blood type incompatible kidney transplant, the first kidney-pancreas transplant program and the first cadaveric donor and live donor liver transplant in Antalya. Dr. As of August 2016, Alper Demirbaş has performed 4900 kidney transplants, 500 liver transplants and 95 pancreas transplants.

In addition to being the chairman of 6 national congresses, he has also been an invited speaker at 12 international and 65 national scientific congresses. Dr. Alper Demirbaş was married and the father of 1 girl and 1 boy.

Awards:

Eczacibasi Medical Award of 2002, Akdeniz University Service Award of 2005, Izder Medical Man of the Year Award of 2006, BÖHAK Medical Man of the Year Award of 2007, Sabah Mediterranean Newspaper Scientist of the Year Award of 2007, ANTIKAD Scientist of the Year Award of 2009, Social Ethics Association Award of 2010, Işık University Medical Man of the Year Award of 2015, VTV Antalya's Brand Value Award of 2015.

Certificates:

Doctor of Medicine Degree Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine Ankara, General Surgeon Ministry of Health Turkey EKFMG (0-477-343-8), University of Miami School of Medicine Member of Multiple Organ Transplant, ASTS Multiorgan Transplant Scholarship. Lecturer at Kyoto University. Lecturer at University of Essen, Research assistant at the University of Cambridge .

Professional Members:

American Society of Transplant Surgeons, American Transplantation Society Nominated, Middle East and Southern Africa Council Transplantation Society 2007, International Liver Transplantation Association, Turkish Transplantation Association, Turkish Society of Surgery, Turkish Hepatobiliary Surgery Association.

Disclaimer:

Our website contents consist of articles approved by our Web and Medical Editorial Board with the contributions of our physicians. Our contents are prepared only for informational purposes for public benefit. Be sure to consult your doctor for diagnosis and treatment.
Medically Reviewed by Professor Doctor Alper Demirbaş
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