New Highly Mutated COVID Variant “Pirola” BA.2.86 Raises Concerns
A highly mutated strain of COVID-19, known as “Pirola” BA.2.86, is causing concern among experts due to its potential to evade immunity and infect human hosts. Experimental data released by variant researcher Yulong Richard Cao reveals that while BA.2.86 may have lower infectivity compared to other variants such as “Eris” EG.5 and “Kraken” XBB.1.5, it features a greater number of mutations that help it rather than harm it.
The good news is that BA.2.86’s ability to infect human hosts may be lower than other high-flying variants. However, it can “significantly escape” immunity from XBB variants from both vaccination and infection. This poses a challenge as new COVID boosters, set for release in the U.S. later this month, were tailored to XBB.1.5, raising questions about their efficacy against the highly mutated Omicron spawn.
Despite BA.2.86’s lower infectivity, experts warn against letting our guard down. Its descendants could potentially become the next dominant variant, causing a surge in cases and necessitating a scramble for new vaccines and therapeutics. Researchers highlight the possibility of BA.2.86 combining with another highly transmissible variant in the future, further complicating the situation.
So far, 33 cases of BA.2.86 have been reported globally, with most cases identified in Denmark. The variant has also been detected in other countries, including the U.S., Israel, France, and Scotland. While no deaths have been reported among cases, the spread of BA.2.86 in wastewater and its potential for further evolution raise concerns.
BA.2.86 is distinct from other Omicron variants, with over 30 mutations separating it from its predecessors. This makes it highly different from the original strain of COVID-19. Experts suggest that BA.2.86 has the potential to be the next variant designated with a Greek letter by the World Health Organization (WHO).
As BA.2.86 continues to evolve and spread, experts emphasize the need for close monitoring and caution against complacency. The global community should remain vigilant in tracking the variant’s next steps and prepare for potential challenges posed by further mutations and increased transmissibility.
In conclusion, while BA.2.86 may not be a “black swan” event like Delta and Omicron, its unique characteristics and potential for further evolution warrant careful attention and ongoing research to mitigate its impact on the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.