2023-09-03 16:10:38
CDC Detects New SARS-CoV-2 Variant BA.2.86, Continues Monitoring for Potential Impact on Public Health
August 24, 2023
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States has announced the detection of a new variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus named BA.2.86. With the emergence of this new variant, the CDC is actively monitoring and studying its potential impact on public health.
All viruses, including the virus that causes COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2), undergo changes over time, leading to the formation of new variants. These variants can affect the contagiousness of the virus, its response to treatment, and the severity of the illness it causes. Last week, a new variant called BA.2.86 was identified in human samples from Denmark and Israel, with at least two cases reported in the United States. This variant has multiple genetic differences compared to previous versions of SARS-CoV-2.
Based on the available information, the existing tests used to detect COVID-19 and the drugs used for treatment still appear to be effective against the BA.2.86 variant. However, there are concerns that this variant may be more capable of causing infections in individuals who have previously had COVID-19 or have received COVID-19 vaccines. Scientists are currently evaluating the effectiveness of an updated COVID-19 vaccine that targets this variant. The CDC assesses that this updated vaccine will be effective in reducing severe illness and hospitalizations. There is no evidence at present suggesting that the BA.2.86 variant causes more severe disease. However, this assessment may change as further scientific data becomes available.
If approved/authorized by the FDA and recommended by the CDC, updated vaccines targeting the BA.2.86 variant will be made available at local pharmacies and doctor’s offices as early as mid-September 2023. Meanwhile, the CDC advises individuals to continue following preventive measures to protect themselves and others. These measures include getting vaccinated, staying home when sick, getting tested if necessary, seeking treatment if high-risk individuals have COVID-19, wearing high-quality face masks if choosing to wear one, improving ventilation, and practicing good hand hygiene.
As of August 23, 2023, a total of nine BA.2.86 variant sequences have been reported worldwide. The cases have been reported in Denmark, South Africa, Israel, the United States, and the United Kingdom. The presence of cases in multiple geographic areas indicates international transmission. It is important to note that the rise in hospitalizations in the United States is unlikely to be solely caused by the BA.2.86 variant, although this may change with additional data.
CDC officials state that it is too early to determine whether the BA.2.86 variant causes more severe disease compared to previous variants. The agency is closely monitoring hospitalization rates to identify any early signs of increased severity associated with this variant. However, sites where the variant has been detected have not experienced significant increases in transmission indicators or hospitalizations compared to neighboring sites. Nonetheless, further evaluation is needed as more data on the variant becomes available.
Regarding transmission, with only nine sequences detected so far, it is too early to determine how easily the BA.2.86 variant spreads. However, the detection of the variant across multiple continents suggests some level of transmissibility. This is noteworthy as most highly divergent lineages that can emerge in individuals with weakened immune systems and persistent infections have not previously shown significant transmission.
The CDC will continue to closely monitor and provide updates on the BA.2.86 variant as more information becomes available. As the global community combats COVID-19, it remains essential for individuals to stay informed, take precautionary measures, and follow public health guidelines to mitigate the spread of the virus and its variants.]
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