Highly mutated COVID variant suspected to have reached third continent

Two suspected cases of the COVID-19 variant, B.1.1.529, likely to be named the Nu variant, have been detected in Belgium, according to local media reports.

Leading local virologist Marc Van Ranst was cited by local media outlet HLN LIVE on Friday as saying that the country is analyzing two samples of the virus to determine whether they are the same as the variant that was first detected in Botswana.

“We are currently analyzing two suspicious samples,” Van Ranst also said on Twitter, according to Reuters, which reported that his laboratory works closely with Belgium’s public health body Sciensano.

Confirmed cases of the variant have so far been detected in Botswana, South Africa, Hong Kong and Israel. In total, 84 confirmed cases have been identified so far, according to an online tracker.

B.1.1.529 is currently being referred to as the “Nu” variant as people anticipate the World Health Organization designating it as a variant of interest or concern using its Greek alphabet naming system. However, the WHO has not yet called it Nu or designated it as a variant of interest or concern.

This is a developing story.