A highly mutated variant of Covid-19, known as the BA.2.86 strain or ‘Pirola’, has been detected in Ohio, making it the third state in which the variant has been found. The variant was first identified through wastewater testing in Virginia and Michigan last week. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is currently conducting further analysis to confirm the presence of the new strain in Ohio.
According to the CDC, the BA.2.86 variant is a cause for concern due to its numerous mutations, which may enable it to evade immunity from vaccines and previous infections. This comes at a time when Covid-19 hospitalizations in the US have been steadily increasing over the past five weeks, with a 22 percent jump reported in the latest week. The CDC predicts a further rise in hospitalizations in the coming month, with around 2,000 Americans being admitted each day.
It is worth noting, however, that the current hospitalization levels are still significantly lower than those observed during the same period last year. Additionally, the number of deaths remains relatively stable. Doctors on the ground have also reported milder cases of Covid-19 compared to earlier in the pandemic.
Nevertheless, concerns surrounding the new variants have prompted a return to wearing masks in certain settings. Kaiser Permanente hospital in California and Upstate Community Hospital in New York have reinstated mask mandates for healthcare workers, patients, and visitors. These precautions aim to mitigate the potential impact of new variants.
In Ohio, the health department is working closely with the CDC to further evaluate the sample that tested positive for the BA.2.86 variant. Wastewater testing is part of the National Wastewater Surveillance System, which helps monitor the presence of the virus in communities. While positive wastewater tests can detect both new and old cases, the low number of people getting tested for variants limits the accuracy of these results.
The BA.2.86 variant is highly mutated, particularly its spike protein, which facilitates infection. This mutation may reduce recognition by the immune systems of vaccinated individuals or those who have recovered from previous infections. There is also concern that the variant may cause more severe illness in individuals who have recently recovered from Covid-19.
The CDC emphasizes that it is too early to determine if the BA.2.86 variant will lead to more severe infections than other variants. However, the agency is confident that existing levels of immunity in the US population will still provide some protection against severe disease. The CDC advises that the updated Covid-19 vaccines, set to be distributed this fall, are designed to target strains derived from the XBB Omicron subvariant, which is currently dominant globally.
Researchers are currently assessing the effectiveness of these updated vaccines in reducing severe disease and hospitalizations. Compared to other variants descended from the Omicron subvariant, the BA.2.86 strain has a higher number of mutations. The CDC likens the differences between the two variants to the disparity between the Delta and Omicron variants.
It is important to note that virus samples for more reliable laboratory testing are not yet widely available, and therefore, the real-world impact of the BA.2.86 variant on immunity is still uncertain. Nonetheless, the emergence of this variant underscores the need for continued vigilance and adherence to preventive measures.
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