New Variant of COVID-19 Added to World Health Organization’s Monitoring List
The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified a new lineage of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, named BA.2.86, as a Variant Under Monitoring (VUM) due to its significant number of mutations. The WHO’s decision to include BA.2.86 in its monitoring list follows its identification in the United States, Denmark, and Israel, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The addition of BA.2.86 to the VUM category is notable, considering the relatively small number of known cases and sequences. The first case was identified on July 24, and within less than a month, on August 17, the WHO classified it as a VUM. This swift categorization highlights the attention and concern surrounding this particular variant.
Dr. S. Wesley Long, the medical director of diagnostic microbiology at Houston Methodist, commented on the variant’s potential to evade vaccine protection. While it remains uncertain if the 36 mutations of BA.2.86 will enhance its ability to evade immunity, virologist Jesse Bloom suggests that preliminary assessments estimate BA.2.86 to have an “equal or greater” chance of evading immunity compared to previous Omicron or pre-Omicron variants.
The CDC has informed the public that there are currently no changes to their guidance for protection against new variants. WHO is monitoring a total of seven VUMs, all sublineages of the Omicron variant, and three Variants of Interest (VOI): XBB.1.5, XBB.1.6, and the latest addition, EG.5, nicknamed Eris.
In other developments, Moderna recently announced an updated COVID-19 vaccine booster shot designed to provide a “significant boost” in antibody production to combat the EG.5 variant.
Further data and research are necessary to fully understand the BA.2.86 variant and its potential impact. The WHO has committed to keeping countries and the public informed as new information becomes available.
Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved.