There is yet another variant of Covid-19 merging that scientists are aware of, known as the 'IHU' strain.
Viruses mutate and produce different strains over time as it helps them to survive, and Covid-19 is no different.
All of the new Covid strains mean that it can be hard to keep on top of the disease, as experts and the government roll out vaccination programmes to try and keep on top of infections.
Once a new variant emerges, the current vaccines might become less effective against the new strain, The Mirror reports.
The virus itself can also become more transmissible than before.
So what is the 'IHU' variant and should people be concerned?
What is the new Covid variant?
The IHU variant takes its name, unlike other variants which use the Greek alphabet, from researchers based at the IHU Mediterranee hospital in Marseille.
The strain has been given the name B.1.640.2.
Twelve people so far have been identified as having the strain, including seven adults and five children.
A study into the variant has not yet been peer-reviewed, but initial findings have indicated the strain has 46 mutations, several more than Omicron's 37.
Researchers have said it is too early to speculate on how harmful the mutant strain is: "It is too early to speculate on virological, epidemiological or clinical features of this IHU variant based on these 12 cases.
"Overall, these observations show once again the unpredictability of the emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants and their introduction from abroad, and they exemplify the difficulty to control such introduction and subsequent spread."
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It is not yet a 'variant of concern' identified by the World Health Organisation. Initial findings suggest it is unlikely that it will be.
However, WHO infectious disease epidemiologist Maria Van Kerkhove said the strain had been recorded as a ‘variant under monitoring' by the WHO in November.
In an update on Monday, she Tweeted that this classification meant it had been defined as a variant with “genetic changes that are suspected to affect virus characteristics with some indication that it could pose a future risk, but evidence of phenotypic or epidemiological impact is currently unclear".
Should we be concerned about the IHU variant?
It doesn't currently look as though people should be concerned about the IHU variant. It predates the Omicron variant that is now dominant across the world.
As for symptoms, the study into the variant revealed the first identified case only developed 'mild' respiratory symptoms.
The variant officially known as B.1.640.2 was first identified in France in November and the person who was detected had recently returned from a trip to Cameroon.
However, investigations into this have been unable to show any more links with Cameroon, so it is not believed the variant emerged from there.
An expert has said the variant is “not worth worrying about” at the moment, as it predates the Omicron variant and has yet to take off.
Tom Peacock, an infectious disease virologist at Imperial College London, said on Twitter this week: “This virus has had a decent chance to cause trouble but never really materialised.”
Meanwhile, American epidemiologist Eric Feigl-Ding said to the Evening Standard: "There are scores of new variants discovered all the time, but it does not necessarily mean they will be more dangerous."
So far, no cases of the B.1.640.2 variant have been formally recorded in any country other than France.
It comes as the Omicron variant has spread globally and is now estimated to make up over 90% of Ireland’s new infections.
Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn said: “Omicron is far more contagious than previous variants and incidence across the country is now much higher than at any point in the pandemic.
“Because of this, many people, despite being boosted and having taken other measures to protect themselves will be infected with SARS-CoV-2. However, their booster will protect the vast majority from serious illness or hospitalisation, and it will help to protect our health service and critical care capacity.
“If you have not yet had any Covid-19 vaccine, it is never too late, please come forward and avail of it as, without it, you are at risk of very significant illness if you are exposed to the virus."
17,656 new Covid-19 cases were confirmed in Ireland on Wednesday.
