The mu variant is a new mutation of the coronavirus that causes COVID – 19. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it is so far a “variant of interest”, that is, it is being closely monitored. The entity indicates that it is present in at least 40 countries.
This variant arose in Colombia, where it represents close to 35% of cases . In Ecuador it represents more than 10% of COVID- 19. Cases of mu disease have already been reported in 49 states of the United States ( all but Nebraska) and its spread in the UK is under investigation.
Although COVID cases have already been reported in the US – 19 linked to this variant, so far it represents only 0.1% of cases.
Why mu can become a “variant of concern”?
So far, the new mutations of the coronavirus they have taken fragments of other variants, such as alpha and delta. (It should be remembered that scientists use the Greek alphabet to name the new variants, mu is the letter number 12).
By using parts of the different mutations, scientists say this can lead to a “super mutant” coronavirus, which is potentially more infectious.
This is what has happened with delta, which has generated a new wave of infections and hospitalizations around the world.
Researchers also say that, potentially, mu could be more adept at “evading” the immunity offered by vaccines.
What are the variants or strains of a virus
Viruses are constantly changing through mutation and new variants of a virus are always expected to occur. Sometimes variants or strains emerge and then disappear. Other times, they persist for a long time. Multiple variants of the virus that causes COVID – 19 have been documented in the United States and throughout the world during this pandemic.
The way viruses survive is by constantly changing. As the human organism “learns” to fight them through the immune response, vaccination, viruses need to change to continue circulating and continue infecting
As viruses change, they become more diverse, explain the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Scientists monitor these changes, including changes to the surface of the virus. By carefully studying viruses, they can learn how changes in the virus can affect how it spreads and how people will be infected.
To explain this biological process, the CDC visualizes a virus as a tree that grows and branches; Each branch of the tree is slightly different from the others. By comparing the branches, scientists can label them according to the differences. These small differences, or variants, have been studied and identified since the beginning of the COVID pandemic – 12.
Some variants allow the virus to spread more easily or make it resistant to treatments or vaccines. These variants should be monitored more carefully.
Variants that circulate in the United States
At least five variants are currently circulating in the country:
B.1.1.7 (alpha): this variant was first detected in the United States in December 2020. Initially registered in the UK.
B.1. 351 (beta): This variant was first detected in the United States in late January 2021 . Initially observed in South Africa in December 2020.
P.1 (gamma): This variant was first detected in the United States in January 2021. P.1 was initially identified in travelers from Brazil, who were evaluated during a routine examination at an airport in Japan in early January.
B.1. 617. 2 (delta): This variant was first detected in the United States in March 2021. Initially identified in India in December 2020.
B.1. 621 (mu). This variant was registered for the first time in Colombia, in January 2021.
How to fight coronavirus variants: getting vaccinated
Vaccination is still the least way to “corner” the virus so that it does not continue to infect. The more people vaccinated, the more likely there is to form a “herd” or “herd immunity”, a kind of barrier of human immune systems that weakens the virus.
The following are 12 powerful answers to questions about vaccination against COVID, collected from reliable scientific sources, explaining why getting vaccinated as soon as possible is essential. And sure.
1. What is the benefit of being vaccinated against COVID?
The vaccines available against COVID protect up to 95% of contracting coronavirus and developing COVID – 19.
The information available to date, the product of scientific research, shows that if the person is vaccinated and is infected anyway, the The vaccine will protect you from developing a serious form of the disease.
2. What does a COVID vaccine do in the body?
The goal of the vaccine is to teach the immune system to recognize and fight the virus What causes COVID – 19.
The vaccine contains substances that act by neutralizing the action of a protein that helps the coronavirus to infect the human body. In addition, when immunized, the body is left with a supply of T lymphocytes and B lymphocytes that will remember how to fight that virus in the future.
3. Do vaccines for COVID contain the live virus that causes the disease? Can they give me COVID?
None of the vaccines, both those that are already being applied and those that are still in experimentation, contain forms alive from the coronavirus. And they cannot infect with the coronavirus either.
4. Are COVID vaccines all the same? If I want to get vaccinated, how do I choose which one to use?
Currently, there are three main types of COVID vaccines – 19 that have been developed or are in an advanced stage of research. They are as follows:
mRNA vaccines. These vaccines contain material from the virus that causes COVID – 19. This material “teaches” cells how to make a harmless protein that is unique to the virus. Once the cells make copies of the protein, they destroy the genetic material in the vaccine.
If you enter in contact with the virus, the body will recognize that the protein should not be there and will produce T lymphocytes and B lymphocytes that will remember how to fight the virus that causes COVID – 19. That is, they will prevent infection
Vaccines with protein subunits. These vaccines contain harmless parts (proteins) of the virus that causes COVID – 19, but they do not contain the whole germ.
When vaccinated, a person’s immune system recognizes that proteins do not belong in the body and begins to produce T lymphocytes and antibodies. If in the future the person becomes infected, the cells, which memorized this protein, will recognize it and fight against the virus.
Vector vaccines. These vaccines contain a weakened version of a live virus, different from the one that causes COVID – 19, which has genetic material from the virus that causes COVID – 19 inserted into it (this is called a viral vector).
Once the viral vector is inside the cells, the genetic material “instructs” the cells to produce a protein that is unique to the virus that causes COVID – 19.
Using these instructions, cells make copies of the protein. This prompts the body to produce T lymphocytes and B lymphocytes that will remember how to fight that virus if the person becomes infected in the future.
The person himself GP can explain more about vaccinations, when the time comes.
5. Can these vaccines cause side effects?
Vaccines can cause side effects such as arm pain and some fever. But this means that they have in fact started to act in the body. These symptoms are normal and are a sign that the body is developing immunity.
A few cases of allergic reactions have been reported, in people with a medical history of allergies or asthma. For this reason, for example in the United States, the procedure is to vaccinate the person and have the person stay half an hour at the vaccination site to monitor any unusual reaction.
But again, these have been a few isolated cases. And it is common that they are registered when the vaccine begins to be applied to many more people than those who participate in a clinical trial.
6. How long does it take for the body to be protected against COVID?
It usually takes a few weeks for the body to produce T lymphocytes and lymphocytes B after vaccination, to produce immunity.
Therefore, it is possible for a person to become infected with the virus that causes COVID – 19 just before or just after vaccination and then you get sick because the vaccine didn’t have enough time to provide protection.
What is known from experience with other vaccines is that, if a vaccinated person becomes infected, they will surely have a mild form of the disease.
7. Why are two doses of the COVID vaccine needed?
All COVID vaccines (except one that is still in the clinical trial) need two doses to develop immunity.
The first prick begins to build protection. A second dose is needed a few weeks later to get the best protection the vaccine can offer.
This is not unique to the vaccine against COVID – 19. Many vaccines on the routine vaccination schedule require two to three doses to build long-term immunity, for example the DTaP vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis, or the pneumococcal vaccine.
8. How long does the immunity generated by the vaccine last?
Developing COVID – 19 may offer some natural protection, known as immunity. Current evidence suggests that reinfection with the virus that causes COVID – 19 is rare within 90 days after initial infection.
However, experts do not know for sure how long this protection lasts, and the risk of serious illness and death from COVID – 19 far outweighs any benefit of natural immunity.
The COVID vaccine – 19 helps protect by creating an antibody response (immune system) without experiencing illness.
Both natural immunity and immunity produced by a vaccine are important parts of COVID – 19 about which experts are learning more every day.
One of the things to elucidate is whether the vaccine against COVID will provide long-term immunity or will it end up being seasonal, as per example the flu or influenza vaccine.
9. If I wear a mask, why do I have to get vaccinated?
The use of masks and physical distancing help reduce the possibility of being exposed the virus or transmit it to other people, but these measures are not enough.
Vaccines teach the body that the immune system is ready to fight the virus if it is exposed.
The combination of vaccines and basic sanitary measures, Wearing a mask, respecting distance and washing hands, among others, will continue to offer protection against COVID – 19, as long as the pandemic is not declared over.
10. What precautions should I take into account before and after getting vaccinated?
Specialists indicate that it is important to sleep well and hydrate properly before getting vaccinated , so that the body receives the dose in the best way.
Regarding exercise, there is not enough evidence to strongly contraindicate it before or after receiving the vaccine, even if you do not suffer any side effects, it should not There may be a problem in doing physical activity.
However, the experts’ recommendation is not to make great physical efforts both before and after getting vaccinated (around 12 hours).
Neither should a negative immune response be stimulated, for example, through body modifications (such as tattoos or piercings), or by taking over-the-counter medications.
11. Can I drink alcohol if I am going to be vaccinated?
Since the vaccination began, the recommendation not to drink alcohol during the 24 hours before and after receiving the dose.
Experts point out that this advice does not have scientific evidence to back it up. Some studies even indicate that in the long term the consumption of small amounts of alcohol can be beneficial for the immune system, by reducing inflammation.
However, if the consumption of alcoholic beverages is excessive it can be counterproductive, worsening the possible side effects of the vaccine.
12. Why getting vaccinated is a social duty
Getting vaccinated is one of the many steps you can take to protect yourself and others from COVID- 19. This protection against COVID – 19 is of vital importance because for some people they suffer a severe COVID illness, or die.
To stop a pandemic, you need to use all available tools.
Mass vaccination generates what is called herd immunity: the equation is simple, the greater the number of people vaccinated, the greater the protection against the virus.
Vaccination protects the vaccinated, protects others, and makes the circulation of the virus weaken, because it stops finding organisms to infect.
This is the way to end the pandemic.
Sources: CDC, Johns Hopkins University, University of Michigan, NIAID.