Mu COVID-19 variant not detected in Thailand: Health Ministry

[webfact]

 

By Tanakorn Sangiam

 

BANGKOK (NNT) - The Ministry of Public Health has confirmed there have yet to be any cases of COVID-19 caused by the Mu variant, in Thailand, as the Delta variant continues to be the dominant strain.

 

The Department of Medical Sciences Director General Dr Supakit Sirilak has confirmed there is still no presence of the Mu variant of SARS-CoV-2 virus reported in Thailand, as COVID-19 cases in the country are still dominated by the Delta variant.

 

According to genomic sequencing data from 1,577 samples randomly collected from COVID-19 positive patients last week, the Delta variant remains the dominant strain accounting for 1,417 samples sequenced, followed by the Alpha variant in 75 samples, and the Beta variant in 31 samples.

 

Most of the cases in Bangkok, now at 97.6% are estimated to be caused by the Delta variant, while the Beta variant is still found mostly in the southern region. Of the 31 samples sequenced, 28 are from Narathiwat, 2 from Pattani, and 1 from Yala.

 

Meanwhile, health authorities have yet to detect any presence of the Mu variant (B.1.621) from any samples sequenced in Thailand.

 

The World Health Organization has listed the Mu variant as a Variant of Interest (VOI), however the number of cases caused by this variant is relatively low, with 2,400 cases detected in the United States, 965 cases in Colombia, and 367 cases in Mexico.

 

Scientists are currently unable to determine whether this new variant would be more transmissible due to the lack of sufficient data, however the variant is thought to have a low level of ability to evade immune protection, either from a previous infection or vaccination.

 

Additionally, the department has yet to detect any COVID-19 cases caused by the C.1.2 variant in Thailand. This variant was first identified in South Africa in May, bearing several interesting mutations. The variant has yet to be classified by the World Health Organization, with only a few cases discovered around the world.

 

Thailand currently conducts weekly genomic sequencing of around 1,000 samples. Health authorities aim to sequence 10,000 more samples from today until December, with a particular focus on cases in Phuket, where the data on COVID-19 variants will help support studies on vaccine efficacy.

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2021-09-07

 

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[Gold Star]

I hope they won't suggest taking a cow deworming drug for a variant named 'Mu'.

[zzaa09]

Just another mutated variant. 

How many are there circulating currently.......15? 16? 

These are the ones that have been identified. 

[Maha Sarakham]

Getting tired of reading the news.  This is going to be the only thing anyone talks about for the next 3 years isn't it...

[ezzra]

25 minutes ago, Maha Sarakham said:

Getting tired of reading the news.  This is going to be the only thing anyone talks about for the next 3 years isn't it...

Talking about it is half the troubles, losing your life works and business, getting sick because of it and dying  this is the Pitts...

Edited September 6, 2021 by ezzra

[hotchilli]

1 hour ago, Maha Sarakham said:

Getting tired of reading the news.  This is going to be the only thing anyone talks about for the next 3 years isn't it...

Do what I do, read the headlines and move on .

[nowhereman]

3 hours ago, Gold Star said:

I hope they won't suggest taking a cow deworming drug for a variant named 'Mu'.

I think Mu is a pig in Thai ????

[Scrotobike]

Not found it

Not testing enough generally

Not testing enough of those very few tests to check if MU is here

So basically - clueless.

[CANSIAM]

Ohhhh I'm sure Mu is festering and will arise due to the snail pace vaccine roll out............

[sanuk711]

3 hours ago, Maha Sarakham said:

Getting tired of reading the news.  This is going to be the only thing anyone talks about for the next 3 years isn't it...

[lucky2008]

 Coming Soon to a Theater Near You!

The release date will most likely coincide when it's time for your 3rd "retooled" jab. 

[Cake Monster]

2 hours ago, Scrotobike said:

Not found it

Not testing enough generally

Not testing enough of those very few tests to check if MU is here

So basically - clueless.

I think we will maybe see more of these kind of reports from the Authorities.

A  lack of testing for new Variants was one of the reasons that Thailand was placed on the UK,s Red List

I had not even heard of this Mu Variant, but the C.1.2 variant also highlighted in the report, was , I thought, a Variant designated by the WHO as a Variant of " Interest "

Edited September 7, 2021 by Cake Monster

[sezze]

6 hours ago, zzaa09 said:

Just another mutated variant. 

How many are there circulating currently.......15? 16? 

These are the ones that have been identified. 

Many many more and all are documented . The ones given special names are on "watchlist" , and got the potential to be "variants of interest" or "variants of concern" . It means that a they got enough reason to be classified as special due to reasons of evading vaccination or higher transfer rate or higher risk or are different enough to grow into something more . Virus mutates constantly , and covid is not any different from that . It is not particular very mutating , which for example Flu is , but neither is it standing still .

[248900_1469958220]

"Boosters roll up roll up for your boosters".....Had your first? Had your second??? Sorry you aint 'fully vaccinated' Now its time for number three....."BOOSTERS....boosters.....roll up roll up for your boosters" 

[sezze]

55 minutes ago, 248900_1469958220 said:

"Boosters roll up roll up for your boosters".....Had your first? Had your second??? Sorry you aint 'fully vaccinated' Now its time for number three....."BOOSTERS....boosters.....roll up roll up for your boosters" 

If you need a yearly booster shot , i wouldn't mind at all . Also , the vaccines will be slightly altered since they are working on it , since with all the billions of vaccines given and seen how they work they can fine tune them to work longer or have better results .