The emergence of a highly mutated new Covid-19 variant has sparked fears of a resurgence of the virus around the world, including in Australia.
The Pirola variant, which experts say is the real deal, has just been found in Australia for the first time, while experts fear it is rapidly spreading undetected.
The first Australian case was found by a Western Australia laboratory, but there are likely to be many more as very few Covid infections are sent for testing.
While the World Health Organization (WHO) considers Pirola to be a variant under monitoring rather than a variant of concern, WA’s health department has warned about its concern.
People are encouraged to stay home if they are sick, wash or sanitize their hands regularly, cover coughs and, importantly, get vaccinated against Covid-19 and influenza, it said in a statement.
The Pirola variant of Covid, which experts say is the real deal, has been found in Australia for the first time. A woman wearing a facemask is pictured
Keeping up to date with vaccinations remains the best way to prevent serious disease and hospitalization from Covid.
Pirola, scientifically called BA.2.86, is a mutated cousin of Omicron and was first detected in Israel and Denmark in August.
It has since spread to the UK, US, South Africa, Portugal, Sweden, France, Canada, Thailand, Switzerland, and now Australia.
It is one of more than 600 Omicron sub-variants currently circulating, according to the WHO.
As with all viruses, Covid constantly changes through mutation and sometimes these mutations result in new variants.
Like other new Covid variants, online virus trackers decided to call BA.2.86 something easier to remember and came up with Pirola.
If WHO declares it to be a variant of interest, this could be shortened to Pi, the letter which follows Omicron in the Greek alphabet, the system officials use to name new strains.
Pirola is causing far more concern than other variants because it has 35 mutations on its spike protein, the part of the virus that Covid vaccines are designed to target.
Several of Pirola’s mutations have unknown functions, but others are thought to help the virus evade the immune system.
The genetic leap is roughly of the same magnitude as seen between the initial Omicron variant and the previous Delta variant which the former replaced, the US’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.
In the UK, the Department of Health and Social Care announced vaccinations for care home residents and vulnerable adults would start earlier than scheduled due to Pirola.
While virologists have warned it is too early to reliably pinpoint BA.2.86 specific symptoms, its ancestor BA.2 had some tell-tale signs.
The first Australian case of Pirola was found by a Western Australian laboratory, but there are likely to be many more as very few Covid infections are sent for testing. A woman is pictured getting a Covid vaccination
Experts aren’t yet certain, however if it behaves like similar Omicron subvariants, the signs to watch out for include a runny nose, sore throat, and fatigue.
Deakin University epidemiologist Catherine Bennett said it is important to watch and wait what happens with Pirola in the coming weeks and months.
It’s not just about what this variant does and how it might impact us … it’s also the bigger picture, Professor Bennett told the ABC.
What could this mean for our future, if (Pirola) builds a new viral genome platform on which more mutations can accumulate? Where does that take the virus, and what does that mean for us?
The signs pictured to watch out for with Pirola include a runny nose, sore throat, and fatigue
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