Bolivian health authorities detect Mu coronavirus variant

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Studies by the Bolivian National Institute of Health Laboratories (INLASA) detected the presence of the Mu variant of the novel coronavirus, first identified in Colombia, in 12% of the country’s cases, the Bolivian Health Ministry said in a press release on Tuesday.

Minister of Health and Sports Jeyson Auza added that “at the peak of the pandemic” the Brazilian P1 variant was identified in 53% of the Pando, Beni, Oruro, La Paz, Cochabamba and Potosi departments and the Lambda variant in 18% of Oruro and Potosi.

Auza explained that the presence of the Mu variant is classified as “of interest” and not “of concern” for now, as it is not associated with severe infection.

By Monday, the Ministry of Health confirmed 493,115 Covid-19 cases and 18,514 deaths related to the disease.

Related coverage: Protests in Brazil: Bolsonaro on Avenida Paulista – "only God will remove me from office" · Brazil's Porto Sudeste has record production and receives award for growth · Covid-19: Uruguay completes 5 consecutive days with no deaths (September 7) · Brazil records 13,645 new cases and 361 Covid deaths (September 7)

More: Bolivia news in English, every day from The Rio Times.

Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief · Editorial standards · Report an error