As France grapples with a record number of COVID-19 cases, authorities said they had discovered a new variant named B.1.640.2.

The new variant is tentatively called IHU. It was discovered by academics at the IHU Mediterranee Infection institute in France.

What is the new &nbsp;B.1.640.2 variant?

Although researchers are still hard at work, reports claim it has been detected among&nbsp;twelve people in the Marseilles region in France.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-coronavirus-variant-called-ihu-discovered-in-france-442158">Also Read:&nbsp;New coronavirus variant called 'IHU' discovered in France</a>

The new variant reportedly contains 46 mutations which is more than Omicron. The first case was reported from a person who had come from&nbsp;the African country of Cameroon. The patient was reportedly vaccinated later.

The "IHU" variant reportedly shows strain carrying the N501Y mutation which existed in the &nbsp;Alpha variant. Scientists believe the new strain also carries E484K mutation making it vaccine-resistant.

Watch:&nbsp;Biden calls Pfizer COVID-19 pill a 'gamechanger'

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What is WHO's view?

WHO's Abdi Mahamud said the new variant was on the "radar" of the UN health body since it was first identified in November.

The new variant was reportedly identified around the same time as Omicron. Abdi Mahamud said the "virus had a lot of chances to pick up."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/not-sustainable-to-vaccinate-the-planet-every-6-months-says-oxford-vaccine-co-creator-442308">Also Read:&nbsp;Not sustainable to vaccinate the planet every 6 months, says Oxford vaccine co-creator</a>

WHO said the new variant is under investigation but it has not been identified as a threat as yet by the health body.

COVID-19 wave in France

On Tuesday, France had reported 270,000 COVID-19 cases as health minister Olivier Veran warned that daily coronavirus cases could hit 300,000 shortly.&nbsp;

The French government has declared it will block&nbsp;unvaccinated people from several venues although the country had unveiled COVID-19 health passes allowing only vaccinated people to enter restaurants and cinema halls.&nbsp;

The new legislation proposes to remove the option of showing a "negative" test in health passes cutting off people who haven't been vaccinated from boarding trains including other restrictions.

(With inputs from Agencies)

As France grapples with a record number of COVID-19 cases, authorities said they had discovered a new variant named B.1.640.2. The new variant is tentatively called IHU.

As France grapples with a record number of COVID-19 cases, authorities said they had discovered a new variant named B.1.640.2. The new variant is tentatively called IHU. It was discovered by academics at the IHU Mediterranee Infection institute in France. What is the new B.1.640.2 variant? Although researchers are still hard at work, reports claim it has been detected among twelve people in the Marseilles region in France. Also Read: New coronavirus variant called 'IHU' discovered in France The new variant reportedly contains 46 mutations which is more than Omicron. The first case was reported from a person who had come from the African country of Cameroon. The patient was reportedly vaccinated later. The "IHU" variant reportedly shows strain carrying the N501Y mutation which existed in the Alpha variant. Scientists believe the new strain also carries E484K mutation making it vaccine-resistant. Watch: Biden calls Pfizer COVID-19 pill a 'gamechanger' What is WHO's view? WHO's Abdi Mahamud said the new variant was on the "radar" of the UN health body since it was first identified in November. The new variant was reportedly identified around the same time as Omicron. Abdi Mahamud said the "virus had a lot of chances to pick up." Also Read: Not sustainable to vaccinate the planet every 6 months, says Oxford vaccine co-creator WHO said the new variant is under investigation but it has not been identified as a threat as yet by the health body. COVID-19 wave in France On Tuesday, France had reported 270,000 COVID-19 cases as health minister Olivier Veran warned that daily coronavirus cases could hit 300,000 shortly. The French government has declared it will block unvaccinated people from several venues although the country had unveiled COVID-19 health passes allowing only vaccinated people to enter restaurants and cinema halls. The new legislation proposes to remove the option of showing a "negative" test in health passes cutting off people who haven't been vaccinated from boarding trains including other restrictions. (With inputs from Agencies)

Explained: What is the new 'IHU'  variant discovered in France?

A new coronavirus variant called 'IHU' has emerged in France amid the rapid surge of Omicron cases across the world.

The B.1.640.2 variant was discovered at the institute IHU Mediterranee Infection. Researchers believe that it contains 46 mutations. This has more mutations than the Omicron variant of COVID-19.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-strain-of-coronavirus-not-from-uk-detected-in-france-355567">Also read |&nbsp;New strain of coronavirus, not from UK, detected in France</a>

The new variant has been associated with the African country Cameroon. France has reported at least 12 cases of this variant.

US epidemiologist and health economist Eric Feigl-Ding took to Twitter and ''rung the bell'' about the variant.

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🔔NEW VARIANT—French scientists have “rung the bell” after discovering a cluster 12 cases of a variant of “atypical combination” with **46 mutations &amp; 37 deletions** in southern France after index case returned from Cameroon🇨🇲—dubbed <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/B16402?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#B16402</a>.🧵 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COVID19?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COVID19</a> <a href="https://t.co/SHXCbnkQUr">https://t.co/SHXCbnkQUr</a> <a href="https://t.co/UwdL2hSW5g">pic.twitter.com/UwdL2hSW5g</a>
— Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) <a href="https://twitter.com/DrEricDing/status/1478100261386301447?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 3, 2022</a></blockquote>
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''These observations show once again the unpredictability of the emergence of new #SARSCoV2 variants and their introduction from abroad, and they exemplify the difficulty to control such introduction and subsequent spread.''

The variant can be identified using careful PCR analysis of signals that are different from Delta and Omicron.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/as-france-fears-dominance-of-omicron-covid-variant-in-2022-canada-lifts-travel-ban-437815">Also read |&nbsp;As France fears dominance of Omicron Covid variant in 2022, Canada lifts travel ban</a>

However, Feigl-Ding has highlighted that ''There are scores of new variants discovered all the time, but it does not necessarily mean they will be more dangerous. What makes a variant more well-known and dangerous is its ability to multiply because of the number of mutations it has in relation to the original virus.''

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6) There are scores of new variants discovered all the time, but it does not necessarily mean they will be more dangerous. What makes a variant more well-known and dangerous is its ability to multiply because of the number of mutations it has in relation to the original virus.
— Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) <a href="https://twitter.com/DrEricDing/status/1478106261778542593?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 3, 2022</a></blockquote>
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It comes after French health minister Olivier Veran said that the country expects to see even higher daily counts of new COVID-19 infections.

Last week, France saw four consecutive days of record-breaking new cases figures above 200,000.

Veran had further added that the number might go as high as 300,000 to 400,000 in the coming days.

"I said that maybe - maybe - this is the last wave, meaning that considering the number of infections in our country and around the world, it's probable that we will have developed a form of immunity, either through vaccination or through getting infected, or both," he said.

(With inputs from agencies)

A new coronavirus variant called 'IHU' has emerged in France amid the rapid surge of Omicron cases across the world. The B.1.640.2 variant was discovered at the institute IHU Mediterranee Infection.

A new coronavirus variant called 'IHU' has emerged in France amid the rapid surge of Omicron cases across the world. The B.1.640.2 variant was discovered at the institute IHU Mediterranee Infection. Researchers believe that it contains 46 mutations. This has more mutations than the Omicron variant of COVID-19. Also read | New strain of coronavirus, not from UK, detected in France The new variant has been associated with the African country Cameroon. France has reported at least 12 cases of this variant. US epidemiologist and health economist Eric Feigl-Ding took to Twitter and ''rung the bell'' about the variant. 🔔NEW VARIANT—French scientists have “rung the bell” after discovering a cluster 12 cases of a variant of “atypical combination” with **46 mutations & 37 deletions** in southern France after index case returned from Cameroon🇨🇲—dubbed #B16402.🧵 #COVID19 https://t.co/SHXCbnkQUr pic.twitter.com/UwdL2hSW5g — Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) January 3, 2022 × ''These observations show once again the unpredictability of the emergence of new #SARSCoV2 variants and their introduction from abroad, and they exemplify the difficulty to control such introduction and subsequent spread.'' The variant can be identified using careful PCR analysis of signals that are different from Delta and Omicron. Also read | As France fears dominance of Omicron Covid variant in 2022, Canada lifts travel ban However, Feigl-Ding has highlighted that ''There are scores of new variants discovered all the time, but it does not necessarily mean they will be more dangerous. What makes a variant more well-known and dangerous is its ability to multiply because of the number of mutations it has in relation to the original virus.'' 6) There are scores of new variants discovered all the time, but it does not necessarily mean they will be more dangerous. What makes a variant more well-known and dangerous is its ability to multiply because of the number of mutations it has in relation to the original virus. — Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) January 3, 2022 × It comes after French health minister Olivier Veran said that the country expects to see even higher daily counts of new COVID-19 infections. Last week, France saw four consecutive days of record-breaking new cases figures above 200,000. Veran had further added that the number might go as high as 300,000 to 400,000 in the coming days. "I said that maybe - maybe - this is the last wave, meaning that considering the number of infections in our country and around the world, it's probable that we will have developed a form of immunity, either through vaccination or through getting infected, or both," he said. (With inputs from agencies)

New coronavirus variant called 'IHU' discovered in France

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Explained: What is the new 'IHU' variant discovered in France?

New coronavirus variant called 'IHU' discovered in France