Another COVID-19 variant discovered

(CMR) As the Omicron variant of the coronavirus continues to spread rapidly, scientists in France have identified another variant of COVID-19.

Experts at the IHU Mediterranee Infection in Marseille said they had discovered the new variant in December in 12 patients living near Marseille, with the first patient testing positive after traveling to the central African nation of Cameroon.

French scientists said they had identified 46 mutations in the new variant, B.1.640.2, making it more resistant to vaccines and more infectious than the original virus. This variant has neither been detected in other countries nor been labeled a “variant of concern” by the World Health Organization.

Meanwhile, a new study out of Denmark reveals omicron is better at avoiding the human immune system, even in people vaccinated against COVID-19. According to a VOA report, in a survey of 12,000 households, researchers at the University of Copenhagen discovered that omicron was between 2.7 and 3.7 times more infectious than delta among vaccinated Danes.

The study, which has not been peer-reviewed, also found that unvaccinated individuals are more likely to transmit the coronavirus than those fully vaccinated and who received a booster shot. Against omicron, vaccine effectiveness was reduced to about 40% against symptoms and 80% against severe disease, and booster shots improved those numbers to 86% against symptoms and 98% against severe disease.

The CDC said omicron accounted for about 77% of cases in the U.S. in the week ending December 25, a percentage sharply higher than its 58.6% projection announced the previous week.

Meanwhile, in Israel, a 31-year-old pregnant woman has contracted corona and the seasonal flu virus simultaneously. It is the world's first registered “Flurona” case.

According to the Israeli Ministry of Health, the pregnant woman has been revaccinated and is only mildly ill. Because Israel has seen a sharp increase in flu infections in recent weeks, the Health Ministry is investigating the case to see if “flurona” is causing more severe illness.