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A new variant of COVID-19 that may be resistant to vaccines and other means of immunity, called “mu,” is likely already in Massachusetts, according to local doctors.
The new mutation, called a “variant of interest” by the World Health Organization, has been detected in 49 states, and official cases have been reported in Illinois. The variant is not yet listed as being monitored by US health authorities.
Three Boston-based doctors told NBC10 Boston where the variant came from, how it compared to the highly infectious delta variant, and what people should do to stay alert in Massachusetts.
“It’s a variant of interest – great interest – as it has now spread to many countries and almost every state in the United States,” said Dr. Davidson Hamer of the Boston Medical Center in a e-mail Thursday. “The reason it is of great interest is that it may be able to evade both natural and vaccine-induced immunity. This has implications for reinfection, vaccine failure and possibly treatments. by monoclonal antibodies that don’t work. “
Native to northern South America, the variant has now been detected in other countries as well, having been responsible for some clusters in England, explained Hamer and Dr Daniel Kuritzkes, head of Brigham’s infectious disease division. and Women’s Hospital.
The variant contains genetic mutations that indicate natural immunity, current vaccines or monoclonal antibody treatments might not work as well against it as against the original ancestral virus, the WHO said. The strain needs further study to confirm whether it will prove to be more contagious, more deadly, or more resistant to current vaccines and treatments.
“It could be that the same mutations that make a virus harder to neutralize could also reduce a virus’s ability to transmit,” Kuritzkes said. “We will only know for sure with time.”
The overall number of COVID cases has increased in Massachusetts and across the country as the highly infectious delta variant spreads, including among those who are fully vaccinated.
“The delta variant is so contagious that no other variant has been able to compete with it for dominance,” said Dr. Shira Doron of Tufts Medical Center. “The time to really watch for new variants is when the delta wave has receded.”
Delta remains the dominant strain in Massachusetts, with the most recent data showing it accounts for 99% of cases, Kuritzkes said. But Boston-based doctors agreed that experts must continue to monitor the data closely to see if mu takes over.
“It’s impossible to predict whether Mu will settle down and become the predominant strain,” Kuritzkes said in an email Thursday.
“We have to watch him closely to see if he moves delta,” Hamer added. “If delta is more easily transmitted than mu, delta may continue to predominate.”
The experts’ solution remains unchanged: global vaccination. Health experts continue to stress that vaccinations reduce the risk of serious injury or death in the rare case of a breakthrough. Until then, Doron said people should continue to follow standard coronavirus safety protocols.
“The same precautions you take now to avoid the delta variant will be important to avoid mu and any other emerging variants,” Doron said, noting that the virus is still mutating. “And even a variant that has immune evasion activity is likely to see some mitigation in severity by vaccination, so get vaccinated if you aren’t already and get your second dose if you haven’t. received only one dose of mRNA vaccine. “
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