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The delta variant remains the dominant and most concerning strain of coronavirus in Michigan and across the country, although you may have heard of another new strain that is gaining traction.
Last week, the World Health Organization added the Mu variant, also known as B.1.621, to its list of “variants of interest.” The strain was first discovered in January 2021 in Colombia and has since been found in 49 states – all except Nebraska – at the start of this week.
Health officials note that the Mu variant has developed several potential immune evasion properties, meaning it could potentially escape the protection provided by natural infection or vaccination. But more research is needed to better understand the strain and the effectiveness of the vaccines available against it.
In Michigan, there have been 10 known cases of COVID-19 linked to the MU variant as of September 3, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. There could be more cases, as not all positive samples are sequenced, but the variant is believed to represent less than 1% of current cases.
Of these 10 cases, none of the people reported international travel. According to the MDHHS, two required hospitalization, two were breakthrough infections and six reported symptoms.
Dr Liam Sullivan, an infectious disease specialist at Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids, noted that the Mu variant appears to be as transmissible as the delta. The vaccines appear to protect against serious illnesses caused by the newer variants as well as the older ones, but more research is needed to assess their effectiveness.
Sullivan said there were still concerns that the new variants could evade vaccine-induced immunity.
“I mean it’s something we always need to watch out for, and I think that’s another reason people need to get vaccinated because we need to slow the spread of this virus,” he said. he declares.
As of Tuesday, Sept. 7, about 61% of Michigan residents aged 12 and older had received a first dose of the vaccine and 56.2% had been fully immunized. Health officials estimate that more than 70% of the public must be vaccinated to slow coronavirus mutations. Some believe that the threshold is closer to 80% or 90% vaccination to achieve a level of generalized community protection.
Dr Russell Lampen, an infectious disease specialist at Spectrum, said he was not aware of any cases of mu in western Michigan.
“We’re basically a 100% delta variant in West Michigan,” Lampen said, noting that the variant remains the “big player” in viral transmission as this fall approaches. The delta variant has a “strange ability” to attach to airway cells more tightly than previous variants, giving it the ability to replicate faster and at greater levels.
As of September 3, Michigan had 1,806 cases related to the delta variant, representing 99.3% of specimens sequenced in the past four weeks. The delta variant was found in 74 of 83 counties.
The vaccines are slightly less effective against the delta variant, but still very effective. A study by Public Health England found that the Pfizer vaccine, the most common vaccine given in Michigan, was 88% effective in people with the delta variant. This compared to 95% effectiveness against the alpha variant. An Israeli study found it to have lower efficacy – 64%, noted Dr Matthew Sims, director of infection prevention research for Beaumont Health, based in Royal Oak.
The CDC has not listed the Mu variant as one of its “variants of concern.” There are four of them, including strain B.1.1.7 (alpha) first discovered in the UK, strain B.1.351 (beta) first discovered in South Africa, strain P.1 (gamma) first discovered in Japan and Brazil, and B.1.617.2 (delta) first identified in India.
Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said health officials are monitoring the mu variant “closely” although it is “not at all close” to becoming the strain COVID-19 dominant in the us
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization is also monitoring variant C.1.2, which was first identified in South Africa in May. This is neither considered a worrying variant, nor an interesting variant as of September 10.
No case of C.1.2 has been reported in Michigan to date.
Vaccines are readily available at local pharmacies, health systems, clinics, and health departments. To find a vaccine near you, visit the Michigan COVID-19 vaccine website or go to VaccineFinder.org.
Learn more about MLive:
Fourth wave of COVID threat in Michigan hospitals ‘very real’ without more vaccinations
Weighing the risks of COVID vaccines against the risk of the COVID virus
Michigan researchers estimate combination vaccination and natural immunity rate
What we know at this stage about natural immunity to COVID-19
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