A pre-print posted on medRxiv, but not yet published or peer-reviewed, by experts from the IHU Mediterranee Infection traced the cases to the “Marseille geographical area”.
Further research shows it came with a host of new mutations, some capable of facilitating vaccine escape.
As with the latest identified Covid lineages, B.1.640.2 has adapted to dodge immunity provided by vaccination.
Among its many mutations is E484K, which researchers have identified as a serial vaccine dampener.