(WWJ) While the highly contagious delta variant of the coronavirus has been spreading in Michigan and across the U.S., another strain has been discovered.
WWJ's Dr. Deanna Lites reports the mu variant has been detected in 49 U.S. states, including Michigan, and more than 40 counties around the world.
Health officials, including experts in the metro Detroit area, are closely monitoring this latest variant.
Mu is a version of the coronavirus that was first identified in Colombia in January and has since caused isolated outbreaks in South America, Europe and the U.S.
In Colombia, it may be responsible for about 39% of cases.
"Right now it's just a variant of interest, because it has a number of worrisome mutations," said Dr. Mathew Sims, Director of Infectious Disease Research for Beaumont Health.
While thus far is does not appear that mu spreads as easily as delta, Sims said: "There's concern about whether the vaccines will work as well against it."
"Right now, almost everything we're seeing in the U.S. is delta," he added. "And less than 1% is this new mu variant."
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Meanwhile, guidance from Michigan health officials remains the same.
Michiganders are urged to:
- Get vaccinated for COVID-19 as soon as possible.
- Wear a mask around others indoors and in crowded outdoor spaces.
- Avoid large gatherings.
- Stay six feet apart from others outside your household.
- Wash hands often.
- Ventilate indoor spaces.
This comes show COVID-19 is still on the rise in Michigan in recent weeks; with an average of just over 1,500 new cases confirmed every day. There were also 19 new deaths reported in the four-day period that ended Tuesday.
More than 1,300 hundred people in Michigan, meanwhile, are currently hospitalized for treatment of COVID-19.
Get more updates statistics, plus information on testing and vaccinations at michigan.gov/coronavirus.
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