French researchers have detected a new COVID-19 variant, named IHU, which reportedly contains 46 mutations - more than any other coronavirus strain discovered since the virus outbreak.
Officially called B.1.640.2, the new variant was detected by the Marseille University Hospital Institute and, for now, there very little information, as the positive cases discovered are just a dozen people who presented symptoms after a trip to Cameroon.
Reports on the IHU variant were submitted at the end of December, but this study is still pending validation as its conclusions must be analysed by experts before results are officially released.
Meanwhile, the WHO has categorised variants to those of concern (VOC), those of interest (VOI), or those under monitoring (VUM).
"[It's] too early to speculate on virological, epidemiological or clinical features of this IHU variant based on these 12 cases," IHU researchers wrote in an article.
