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COVID-19 mu variant detected in Jefferson County: What health officials are monitoring
WLKY Digital Team
COVID-19 mu variant detected in Jefferson County: What health officials are monitoring
dr hart ledge. I would ask you to comment on this question from Jose donna's in latin America. The new variant mu has already been declared a variant of interest for its rapid spread. Has that variant been detected in Louisville or Kentucky? And what do you know about it? So um you is the next variant that we're looking at and being concerned about. There are quite a few cases on the west coast in California and other states florida has some as well. Um I do not believe that we have any human confirmed cases here in jefferson county yet. Um It has been detected in our waste water. So I suspect that it is circulating at a low level but we probably will see it uh increase over the coming weeks and months. Um The concern with the mu variant is that it has one novel mutation uh compared to the other variants that we've looked at before and there is a possibility some early evidence that suggests that that mutation may make it resistant to the vaccine where the vaccine would not be as effective. Um There's a lot of research going on about that right now. The vaccines that are used in in latin America are generally comparable to the ones being used in asia as opposed to the ones being used in the United States and in europe. So um it's a little bit of an apples and oranges comparison and more research needs to be done before we make a firm statement about it. The World Health Organization has named it a variant of concern let the C. D. C. Has not escalated it to that level yet. So something we're keeping an eye on, but not a major issue locally yet. Thank you doctor.
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COVID-19 mu variant detected in Jefferson County: What health officials are monitoring
WLKY Digital Team
For weeks the delta variant has been front and center as Kentucky, and the rest of the country, deals with the ongoing impacts from the latest COVID-19 surge.Health officials have warned that variants could disrupt the progress the country has made after the release of the vaccines. The delta variant has significantly slowed down that process, causing hospitals to reach critical staffing shortages and schools to consider virtual learning.But the next concern is that another variant may spread that could be resistant to the vaccines that have so far held up. That brings us to the mu variant, which has been on the radar of health officials here in the U.S. as it spreads in Latin America.Dr. SarahBeth Hartlage, associated medical director for the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health, confirmed in a COVID-19 briefing Tuesday that the mu variant has been detected in wastewater here in the metro, but a human case has not been confirmed in Jefferson County.Right now, Hartlage said most of the cases of the mu variant have been reported on the west coast and in California. There have also been cases confirmed in Florida.Latest numbers: Delta variant drives COVID-19 surge in Kentucky, IndianaHartlage said while a human case hasn't been confirmed in Louisville, because it was detected in wastewater means that it's likely circulating at a low level. She believes it is that possible cases of the mu variant will begin popping up over the next few weeks and months.The mu variant is of particular concern because it has one novel mutation compared to the other variants that have spread. Hartlage said it's possible that mutation may make the mu variant resistant to vaccines.COVID-19 impact: Kentucky health officials warn many hospitals are 'at the brink of collapse'Still, Hartlage said more research is being done on the mu variant and how resistant it is to vaccines. More specifically, she said vaccines used in Latin America, where mu is spreading, are comparable to those in Asia as opposed to the ones being used in the U.S. and Europe. That means more research will need to be done on the effectiveness of the Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines.Hartlage also added that while the World Health Organization has named mu a variant of concern, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has not right now.Overall, she said the mu variant is something to keep an eye on but is not a local issue yet.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. —

For weeks the delta variant has been front and center as Kentucky, and the rest of the country, deals with the ongoing impacts from the latest COVID-19 surge.

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Health officials have warned that variants could disrupt the progress the country has made after the release of the vaccines. The delta variant has significantly slowed down that process, causing hospitals to reach critical staffing shortages and schools to consider virtual learning.

But the next concern is that another variant may spread that could be resistant to the vaccines that have so far held up. That brings us to the mu variant, which has been on the radar of health officials here in the U.S. as it spreads in Latin America.

Dr. SarahBeth Hartlage, associated medical director for the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health, confirmed in a COVID-19 briefing Tuesday that the mu variant has been detected in wastewater here in the metro, but a human case has not been confirmed in Jefferson County.

Right now, Hartlage said most of the cases of the mu variant have been reported on the west coast and in California. There have also been cases confirmed in Florida.

Latest numbers: Delta variant drives COVID-19 surge in Kentucky, Indiana

Hartlage said while a human case hasn't been confirmed in Louisville, because it was detected in wastewater means that it's likely circulating at a low level. She believes it is that possible cases of the mu variant will begin popping up over the next few weeks and months.

The mu variant is of particular concern because it has one novel mutation compared to the other variants that have spread. Hartlage said it's possible that mutation may make the mu variant resistant to vaccines.

COVID-19 impact: Kentucky health officials warn many hospitals are 'at the brink of collapse'

Still, Hartlage said more research is being done on the mu variant and how resistant it is to vaccines. More specifically, she said vaccines used in Latin America, where mu is spreading, are comparable to those in Asia as opposed to the ones being used in the U.S. and Europe. That means more research will need to be done on the effectiveness of the Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines.

Hartlage also added that while the World Health Organization has named mu a variant of concern, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has not right now.

Overall, she said the mu variant is something to keep an eye on but is not a local issue yet.