New Delhi: As the people worldwide are suffering form the pandemic, it’s new variant ‘IHU’ has been identified at France by scientists.
Known as ‘IHU’, the B.1.640.2 variant has been reported by researchers at the institute IHU Mediterranee Infection in at least 12 cases, and has been linked to travel to the African country Cameroon.
The yet-to-be peer-reviewed study, posted on the preprint repository MedRxiv on December 29, revealed that IHU has 46 mutations and 37 deletions, resulting in 30 amino acid substitutions and 12 deletions.
Australia’s Covid-19 cases, hospitalizations hit new records
New virus cases in Australia surged to record levels on Tuesday, increasing the strain on hospitals and testing centres across the country. In New South Wales, Australia’s most-populous state, 23,131 new cases were reported, an increase on the record of 22,577 cases on New Year’s Day. There were 1,344 people in hospitals, up 140 on the previous day and 78 more than the record previously set in late September. The new cases were detected from 83,376 tests, a positivity rate of 28 per cent. Victoria state reported 14,020 cases on Tuesday, eclipsing the record of 8,577 set on Monday. There were 516 people in hospitals, including 108 in intensive care. The new numbers mean Australia has passed the grim milestone of 500,000 Covid-19 cases. New South Wales Chief Medical Officer Kerry Chant on Monday urged people not to seek hospital treatment unless absolutely necessary. “It is important that we all play our part in not placing unnecessary burden on the health system,” she said.
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