A new variant is worrying scientists following an outbreak in southern France. 12 patients in the region have so far tested positive for the strain, which showed an atypical combination, reports the Express.

The index case had returned from travelling to Cameroon, suggesting it may have originated in the African country.

In a preprint paper, that is yet to be peer-reviewed, experts from a French government-back programme said they had identified 46 mutations in the variant.

The variant has been given the name B.1.640.2 and was first detected by experts at the IHU Mediterranee Infection in Marseille.