The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said it is monitoring a new coronavirus variant known as 'Mu', which was first identified in Colombia in January, reports AFP.

Mu, known scientifically as B.1.621, has been classified as a “variant of interest”, the global health body said in its weekly pandemic bulletin.

The WHO said the variant has mutations that indicate a risk of resistance to vaccines and stressed that further studies were needed to better understand it.

"The Mu variant has a constellation of mutations that indicate potential properties of immune escape,” the bulletin said.