French researchers have discovered a new Covid variant, seemingly originating in Cameroon, and have temporarily named it as ‘IHU’.

Nearly 12 cases of the variant were identified in Marseilles, with the first linked to a person who recently returned to France from a three-day trip to west Africa, and is reported to have been fully vaccinated.

The B.1.640.2, or IHU variant, was first identified by academics and scientists at France-based IHU Mediterranee Infection.

IHU has not yet been detected in another country and has not been labelled a variant of concern by the World Health Organisation.