Dr. Howard Smith Oncall

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/vBtj9iV8pSA   At the end of August, the World Health Organization announced another variant of interest, classified at B.1.621 and commonly known as the Mu variant.  This variant encompasses a constellation of mutations that could render it more impervious to the anti-CoVid antibodies generated by our current vaccine.   Early data suggests that its vaccine resistance is likely similar to the South African B.1.35l variant, and our mRNA vaccines should offer good protection, particularly against severe and life-threatening disease.    It first arose in Colombia where its current prevalence is 39%.  Mu has spread to over 40 countries including the US.  Its global prevalence to date is low.  Over 2,000 Mu cases have been identified in the US.  It is most prevalent in Alaska representing almost 4% of cases there.  In the continental US, it is most prevalent in California followed by Florida, New York, New Jersey, Washington state, and Texas.   We don’t have solid data as yet to estimat