**New and Rare COVID Variant Detected in New York City’s Wastewater**
A new and rare variant of COVID-19, known as BA.2.86, has been discovered in New York City’s wastewater, according to the city’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Although the variant has been seen in other parts of the United States, it had not previously been detected in New York state. The specific timing of the discovery was not disclosed.
While the new variant has not yet been found in tests from local residents, health officials believe it is likely already circulating in the city. Furthermore, they anticipate that BA.2.86 may be more effective at evading immunity from vaccines compared to previous variants. Despite this concern, there is no evidence at this time to suggest that the variant causes more severe illness, according to the health department.
To address the emergence of this new variant, health officials are advising New Yorkers, particularly those who are most vulnerable, to get the updated COVID booster shot when it becomes available in the coming weeks. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) expects updated vaccines from Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax to be ready for the public in mid-September. This represents the most specific timeline provided thus far for the new shots, which target the omicron subvariant XBB.1.5. However, the vaccines still require approvals from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the CDC, and the CDC will establish the eligibility guidelines.
While the arrival of updated vaccines provides reassurance amid a slight increase in COVID cases and hospitalizations in the United States, the CDC has noted that these metrics remain below last year’s summer peak. The current surge is mainly driven by newer strains like EG.5, or Eris, an omicron subvariant that accounted for 17.3% of all cases as of last week. The effectiveness of the updated vaccines against BA.2.86 is still unclear, given the small number of cases identified.
The FDA official responsible for vaccine evaluation explained that it is too early to have precise data on how well the vaccines will protect against BA.2.86. However, these vaccines are expected to prevent severe outcomes from COVID infection. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the CDC are closely monitoring the BA.2.86 variant due to its 36 distinguishable mutations from XBB.1.5, but there is currently no evidence indicating that it spreads faster or causes more severe infections.
As the city and state officials alert New Yorkers to exercise caution amid the uptick in cases, more information on the BA.2.86 variant is expected to become available in the coming weeks. The ongoing efforts to stay informed and follow official health guidance will be crucial in managing the spread of this emerging variant and protecting public health.
Sources:
– CNBC News