France detects new COVID variant - 12 Infected

As researchers around the world are trying to get grip on a highly mutated variant of concern ‘Omicron’, a team of scientist in southern France have identified a new strain of the COVID 19 virus named ‘IHU’ or B.1.640.2. 

B.1.640.2 has been reported by researchers at institute IHU Mediterranee infection in France. At least 12 people have tested positive with this new variant. 

Researchers also revealed the first patient tested positive with the variant was an vaccinated adult who had returned to France from a trip to Cameroon, in Central Africa.

However, scientist noted that it is too early to speculate on how this variant behaves as far as infection and protection from vaccines are concerned.

The yet to peer research paper published on preprint repository MedRxiv on December 29, revealed that this variant has 46 mutation and 37 deletions resulting in 30 amino acid substitution and 12 deletions. Fourteen amino acid substitutions, including N501Y and E484K, and 9 deletions are located in the spike protein.  

The two already known spike protein mutations N501Y and E484K were also found in Beta, Gamma, Theta and Omicron variant.

As per Colson the author of study “ the mutation set and phylogenetic position of genomes obtained here Indicate, based on our previous definition, a new variant we name IHU. He also added that the data is another example of the unpredictability of the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variant. 

So far B.1.640.2 has not been detected in other countries, neither is labelled a Variant under investigation by the World Health Organisation. 

Easy to detect through RT-PCR test

The researchers also stated that, the mutation on the spike protein of this variant makes it easy to detect using RT-PCR test. This means RT-PCR test can easily help detect this new variant, without the need for full genome sequencing.

Current situation on Omicron

Currently many countries are experiencing a spike in COVID-19 cases driven by the Omicron “Variant of concern”. Since the first identification of Omicron, it has spread to more than 100 countries. So far India has detected 1,892 cases of Omicron.