Understanding IHU: The New Covid Variant

Posted on: Oct 31, 2023 | | Written by:

Understanding IHU: The New Covid Variant

Published on October 27, 2023. EST READ TIME: 3 minutes

The battle against COVID-19 seems never-ending. Every time it feels like we have won the war against the pandemic, the emergence of new variants continues to raise new concerns. This time, the variant that is giving health professionals sleepless nights is known as the IHU variant. Although it was considered as dangerous as its predecessor — the Omicron variant, if we have learned anything from recent history, we can never be too sure. Let’s learn more about this variant, scientifically labelled B.1.640.2 and first found in France.

Origin and Spread of the New Variant

You may not have heard much about the IHU variant. Even the media didn’t pay as much attention to it. Why? Well, it is because its impact was not greatly felt. Yes, it caused an initial alarm due to a handful of reported cases, but that stayed within the confines of a country. However, that doesn’t mean we ignore it. Coming to its origins, it is named after an institute in France — the IHU Méditerranée Infection because researchers first identified the strain here. While the World Health Organization (WHO) has asked people not to worry a lot about this variant, it is safe to say that the potential severity and impact of this new variant are still under study.

Symptoms and Severity

The first few patients infected with the IHU variant reported mild respiratory-related symptoms like sore throat, fever or chills, muscle pain, fatigue, shortness of breath, nasal congestion, etc. Other than respiratory symptoms, there is no evidence of any other symptom.

So, what sets the IHU variant apart? The answer is its genetic makeup. Medical research has found 46 mutations and 37 deletions in the IHU virus, which makes it very different from variants previously found. This variant has 23 mutations on its spike protein. It’s like sitting on a ticking time bomb, as each mutation can determine how the IHU virus will change and how severe the symptoms can get.

Vaccination and Variant Concerns

Vaccination has remained a key strategy in the fight against COVID-19 and all its variants. Those who have received both initial doses of the COVID-19 vaccine and booster shots are more likely to have the immunity to fight the emergence of new variants. But only time will tell if the existing vaccines are good enough to contain the spread of the IHU variant or if we need to develop a new one.

Prevention and Safety Measures

Given the ongoing research and uncertainty surrounding the IHU variant, we must do what we have been doing, i.e., keep following well-established preventive measures. Many precautions that the WHO has recommended can help protect against this variant and many others —

• Vaccination

This is what governments have been saying for years — get vaccinated. It not only saves your life but also prevents you from spreading it. Consult a healthcare professional before getting inoculated.

• Mask Usage

Some people still wear a mask the moment they have a mild cough. This is a preventative measure we can easily follow, as properly wearing a mask when in public spaces can contain the spread of germs.

• Avoid Crowded Spaces

It’s the festive season, and you wish to go out and have fun. But if you are not feeling well, avoid social gatherings. Also, always opt for well-ventilated areas and try to maintain social distancing.

• Hand Hygiene

Even kids know by now that regularly washing your hands significantly reduces the risk of contamination. Don’t have access to water and soap? No problem, always carry an alcohol-based hand sanitiser.

Conclusion

As we hardly know what we are up against, the emergence of the IHU variant raises concerns and doubts. That’s why staying informed and taking all necessary precautions to protect yourself and others is essential. The COVID-19 pandemic also made us realise the importance of having a health insurance plan, whether individual or family health insurance. As the elderly and those with comorbidities are at high risk of COVID-19 and its variants, it’s important for people above 60 to have senior citizen health insurance that will cover the hospitalisation costs arising due to COVID-19 in addition to other age-related illnesses.

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