WHO: COVID-19 strain emerging in France has been tracked since November 2021
Photo: Stephane Mahe / Reuters
The World Health Organization (WHO) already in November knew about the existence of a coronavirus strain detected in France. This was reported by RIA Novosti with reference to a WHO expert.
According to him, the situation around the new version of COVID-19 is being closely monitored. The strain, codenamed B.1.640.2, also received a middle name – IHU (abbreviation of the French Institute of Infectious Diseases in Marseille).
Earlier, scientists from this institute said that an unknown variation of COVID-19 was found in 12 French people who returned from Cameroon. Doctors admitted that the pathogen of the new strain is widespread in this country. Scientists from Marseille said the new variant contains 46 mutations.
According to the information received, the exact number of mutations of the new strain is now impossible to predict. There is still no data on the level of its threat or infectivity.
On January 3, Danish Public Health Authority (SSI) Technical Director and Epidemiologist Tyra Grove Krause said the omicron strain could provide good immunity to the population and hasten the end of the global coronavirus pandemic. This will happen due to the milder nature of the disease and its greater prevalence.
