WASTEWATER TESTING IN THE UNITED STATES has discovered the new and highly mutated coronavirus variant BA.2.86. Red, white, and mutated: Unpacking the U.S.’s new Covid variant.
Scientists and health authorities are racing to understand better BA.2.86, the new strain of the virus that causes COVID-19.
Researchers have found the highly mutated variant in several countries. More recently, they have confirmed BA.2.86 to be present in three U.S. states.
While we do not yet know the clinical implications of the new COVID variant strain, I want to introduce you to the new virus on the block.
Where is the New Covid Variant?
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently posted a risk assessment.
The report notes this:
Preliminary wastewater testing in the United States has detected the new highly mutated coronavirus variant BA.2.86.
The CDC does not indicate where they found the positive wastewater sample in the report.
Rather, the agency indicated that they discovered it as a part of routine monitoring through its National Wastewater Surveillance System.
Covid BA.2.86 Variant— International Transmission
Scientists have reported the results of nine gene sequencing procedures of the new Covid variant worldwide. These analyses include two from the United States, three from Denmark, two from South Africa, one from the United Kingdom, and one from Israel.
The two United States sequences are from patients in Virginia and Michigan.
The Virginia patient had returned from a trip to Japan. The CDC picked up her case through its traveler-based genomic surveillance program.
The patient in Michigan is an older, non-hospitalized adult, reports the state Department of Health.
While several countries quickly identified the BA.2.86COVIDd variant, researchers have collected most samples from patients with mild symptoms.
Switzerland also reports wastewater detection of the low variant COVID levels.
BA.2.86 appears to have emerged in humans only recently. CNN reports that scientists collected the earliest known samples of the new variant in late July 2023.
The BA.2.86 Covid Variant is Full of Mutations
The new virus variant has been nicknamed “Pirola” on social media. BA.2.86 has “mutations could amount to an evolutionary jump on par with the emergence of the Omicron variant in 2021.”
The new B.A.2.86 variant raised concerns earlier this month after virus trackers noticed a handful of new sequences in global virus databases with many genetic changes different from circulating strains.
Compared to the XBB.1.5 variant, which drove a wave earlier this year and is the target of upcoming fall booster shots, BA.2.86 has 36 mutations.
In 2021, early Omicron variants exhibited similar mutations to the original virus strain.
In 2021, early Omicron variants exhibited a similar number of mutations compared to the original virus strain.
Moreover, BA.2.86 contains mutations in key viral parts that may help the variant dodge past our immune defenses from prior vaccinations or infections.
However, the variant is still a part of the Omicron variant family.
My Take — New BA.2.86 COVID Variant
CBS News reports we should have some new data on BA.2.86 early next week. We are still determining how it will behave because we have not seen a local spread of the variant.
Lacking broadly available virus samples for better laboratory testing of antibodies, we need to find out the real-world impact of the BA.2.86 variant of COVID-19.
It’s too early to know with certainty whether BA.2.86 will cause new or worse symptoms than historical COVID viral strains.
If BA.2.86 becomes dominant, the strain’s mutations may be sufficient to render current vaccinations a poor match to fend off infections from the virus.
Nevertheless, our bodies’ other immune defenses may weaken the virus’ toxicity.
Even though viral strain-specific neutralizing antibodies (which may be evaded by the new variant) provide good protection, we have broader immunity protections conferred by infection or vaccination.
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The information I provided in this blog is for educational purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice.
Please consult a medical professional or healthcare provider for medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment. I am not liable for risks or issues associated with using or acting upon the information in this blog.
Thank you for reading “A New COVID Variant.”
