The World Health Organization (WHO) investigates the new variant of coronavirus that has appeared in Colombia. This is the first time it has been detected in the South American country in January 2021. The WHO has explained in a weekly epidemiological report published this Monday that it may have higher resistance to vaccines than other variants.

The work team on the evolution of the virus has determined that initial studies show that the sera of the patients and vaccinees lose neutralization capacity with variant B.1.621. In this sense, they have pointed out that with the Beta variant the same also happens, and that, in addition, more tests are still needed to confirm it. Jairo Méndez Rico, advisor for viral diseases of the Pan American Health Organization, has confirmed the lack of data: “There is still no solid evidence to protect this observation,” he explained to the United Nations (UN).

In fact, the Mu variant has spread in 39 countries, but it has a very low prevalence worldwide (around 0.1%). In South America, on the other hand, the number of patients infected with this variant increases: Ecuador, with 13%, and Colombia, with 39%. WHO is now investigating how it spreads along with the Delta variant. In total, 1,500 different variants are being studied.