As the world grapples with the highly mutated Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, scientists have identified a new strain of the Covid-19 causing virus in Southern France.
Known as ‘IHU’, the B.1.640.2 variant has been reported by researchers at institute IHU Mediterranee Infection in at least 12 cases, and has been linked to travel to African country Cameroon.
However, the researchers noted that it is too early to speculate on how this variant behaves as far as infection and protection from vaccines is concerned.
The WHO said a variant found in France hasn’t become much of a threat since it was first identified in November. The variant “has been on our radar,” Abdi Mahamud, a WHO incident manager on Covid, said on Tuesday.
Here’s how Twitter reacted to this new variant
Say hello to new coronavirus variant ‘IHU’ identified in France 🙃 #IHUvariant #NewVariant #medtwitter https://t.co/ackHyA4alX
— Katarzyna Tomaszczyk (@katetomaszczyk) 1641336670000
B.1.640.2 #IHUvariant 😐 https://t.co/pCGie0pp0Q
— Dharmendra Chavda (@DharmendrChavda) 1641300079000
Looks like the virus will continue to mutate until Pfizer, Moderna et all invade all markets & make huge profits! #IHU #Omicron
— ParuChirps (@ParuChirps) 1641285241000
France detects new Covid-19 variant IHU.Humans be like#France #Covid_19 #IHUvariant #IHU https://t.co/BqBe4D5G9S
— Pragati Gupta (@Pragaticreates) 1641314778000
This one 😂😂😂#IHUvariant https://t.co/EvIUiSY5I0
— Karthik ❤️ (@Karthik_Keerthy) 1641308617000
No one:Coronavirus after every 3 months:#IHUvariant #Omicron #ihu https://t.co/x48tBW8dQu
— Adlin Fernandes (@addyliciouss_) 1641325803000
#Omicron: I’m the dominant variant in the world now.#IHU: https://t.co/a2k1MY5zM7
— Soham Naskar (@SohamNaskar) 1641294220000
Tired already
Earth is ghetto and I’m tired. #IHUvariant https://t.co/BlkbDRw3KR
— Coco (@cocoshoots) 1641341179000
I’m tired😒#IHUvariant https://t.co/sSkt8jKqRo
— Lynn (@Lynn90737789) 1641336301000
Me when I scroll through the #IHUvariant trend https://t.co/ZLRWUZZO6u
— cesar (@jebaiting) 1641338232000
I just got on Twitter to destress and laugh at some fools, then I got to #IHUvariant https://t.co/lCzcBYviJa
— JC (@britishwestindi) 1641343772000
I updated the #Omicron image #coronavirus #covid19 #IHU #B16402 https://t.co/LUIF7ywhfL
— Nicole (@912nic) 1641313829000
Abbreviation done right
I’m assuming the “IHU” in #IHUvariant stands for “I Hate You” I’m going to refer to it as the Molly Ringwald vari… https://t.co/x4Jrd8QZ2Q
— JSWilliams1962 (@jswtreeman) 1641336503000
No change in 2022
#IHU My 2022 would be like this 😂 https://t.co/mHbVEtZSOE
— shreyank (@shreyanklagad) 1641283404000
New Covid-19 variant IHU discovered in France, is more infectious than Omicron.Humans right now:#WeekendCurfew… https://t.co/jRyDSz2rkz
— पुलस्त्य कुमार पाठक (@vedic_guy) 1641282265000
#IHU is a new variant of coronavirus which has been spotted in France.#CoronaPositiveMeanwhile people: https://t.co/KaE4B99MFP
— Soham Naskar (@SohamNaskar) 1641293690000
How many more
New Covid-19 variant IHU discovered in France, is more infectious than Omicron.Everyone to 2022 right now:… https://t.co/Tjc4wK3F5A
— पुलस्त्य कुमार पाठक (@vedic_guy) 1641375350000
How all the Covid variants be coming to us #IHUvariant https://t.co/417kwqDkny
— Danto (@dantitobeltran) 1641335488000
All previous variants looking at #IHUvariant #IHU https://t.co/mFd0SL3vn4
— Vaibhav (@vrushv14) 1641314253000
Meanwhile, vaccine-makers be like..
Vaccine companies after knowing that their is a new variant #IHU in the market..And many more to come: https://t.co/oY2TNiNPfG
— Mr. Absent Refugee (@MrAbsentRefugee) 1641302682000
Waiting in line for 50th booster dose to stop the 51th variant that comes after 50 wave😔🤦🏻♂🙆🏻♂😔#omicron… https://t.co/8mqSGCx9dV
— Raj(30% Sassy+classy 40%savage 30%unpredictable) (@SayMyName_Raj) 1641297346000
Someone end this once for all
𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐂𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝-19 𝐯𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐭 “𝐈𝐇𝐔” 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 ,𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐎𝐦𝐢𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐧.Meanwhile we all be like*#IHU https://t.co/nHReNB8la3
— विक्रम 𝘬ꪊꪑꪖ𝘳 🌺🌿 (@Chai_ishq_hai) 1641279259000
Alternate title for 2022 “people with curfew, covid in nutshell.”#weekendcurfew #IHU #Omicronindia https://t.co/mrDkIJLEYM
— Ayushmaan Gautam (@varaneralph) 1641293081000