Scientists in France have discovered a new Covid-19 variant called IHU.

The information comes as the Omicron variant spreads and global cases continue to rise.

According to the VOA, experts at the IHU Mediterranee Infection in Marseille said they had discovered the new variant in December in 12 patients living near Marseille, with the first patient testing positive after traveling to the Central African nation of Cameroon.

The French scientists said they had identified 46 mutations in the new variant, also dubbed B.1.640.2, that could make it more resistant to vaccines and more infectious than the original virus.