A new variant of the coronavirus, officially called BA.2.86 “Pirrola” on social media, has attracted the attention of health experts around the world due to its striking genetic differences compared to previous versions of the virus.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this variant may be more capable of infecting people with prior immunity, although it is not yet clear whether these infections result in more severe disease.
So far, only two cases of COVID-19 due to BA.2.86 have been confirmed in deer with some others confirmed by Denmark, Israel, South Africa and United Kingdom, according to a risk assessment conducted by the CDC on August 23. Despite its limited spread, its appearance is consistent with the surge of COVID-19 cases at the end of the summer that reignited concerns about the virus .
After months of steady decline, hospitalizations for COVID-19 have increased in recent weeks, and cases are also increasing. Deaths from the disease increased by 21%, although they remained at a relatively low level compared to previous peaks.
The World Health Organization (WHO) is closely monitoring subvariant B.A2.86 (‘Pirola’) to assess its spread and potential impact worldwide. The chief epidemiologist of the technical department for the fight against COVID-19, MarÃa Van Kerkhove, emphasized the importance of monitoring because of the risk that this variant could develop and become more dangerous.
Although it is too early to know its full transference, the variant ‘Pirola’ is distinguished by its 42 mutations, which makes it “radically different” from previous variants, according to the WHO. This different genetic structure allowed it to spread to many continents.
Currently, countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, France, Israel, South Africa and Denmark have reported the presence of the ‘Pirola’ variant in their population. Although no significant increase in transmission indicators was observed in these areas, the situation remains observed.
As for the symptoms, it is too early to tell if this variant is more harmful or fatal than other Omicron subvariants. The possible main symptoms remain the same that indicate the disease:
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Difficulty breathing
- tiredness
- Muscle and body pain
- Headache
- Recent loss of smell or taste
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
Based on current scientific evidence from the CDC, drugs used for other variants of COVID-19 remain effective against the ‘Pirola’ variant. However, it is considered that this variant may be more contagious to people who already suffer from the disease.
It is important to continue to follow precautionary measures, such as vaccination and social distancing, to avoid severe cases of infection. The situation remains dynamic, and health experts are keeping a close eye on this new evolving variant.
