A New Strain of Coronavirus
Global health authorities are closely monitoring a new strain of Coronavirus as it spreads to more countries. This variant, known as BA.2.86, has been identified in several nations, including the US, Switzerland, South Africa, Israel, Denmark, and England, according to officials from the World Health Organization (WHO).
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus recently addressed the media regarding the latest developments in the Coronavirus situation. He emphasized that the emergence of new Coronavirus variants indicates that the virus remains a global health threat. Tedros acknowledged that current data shows a decrease in Coronavirus infections and hospitalizations, but he also expressed concern about “increasing reports of hospitalizations, ICU admissions, and deaths in some countries.” ICU stands for the intensive care unit, a hospital department that provides care for critically ill patients.
Maria Van Kerkhove, part of the WHO’s Health Emergencies Program, reported that around 10 cases of the BA.2.86 variant have been identified worldwide. However, she expressed concern because this variant appears to have more than 30 genetic mutations. The WHO is actively tracking the movements of these latest virus variants, including collecting wastewater samples from various cities to monitor the spread of the Coronavirus. Such measures help authorities understand how quickly these new variants are spreading and their potential severity. “Governments cannot let their guard down,” Van Kerkhove cautioned.
What You Need to Know About the Latest Coronavirus Strain
Health officials have determined that BA.2.86 is a descendant of the Omicron variant, which has been circulating in the US since last year and was first identified in Denmark on July 24th.
While some international scientists have stated that it’s crucial to monitor BA.2.86, they believe that this variant is unlikely to trigger a new, deadly wave of infections. This is because a significant portion of the population has developed immunity to the Coronavirus through vaccinations or previous infections.
Scientists are currently conducting tests to determine how effective newly developed Coronavirus vaccines are against BA.2.86. Van Kerkhove noted that historically, vaccines have been more successful at preventing severe illness and death rather than stopping reinfections. US health authorities have announced that the latest Coronavirus vaccines are expected to be released sometime in September.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently issued a risk assessment report on the new variant. The report mentioned that BA.2.86 may have the potential to cause illness in vaccinated individuals and those who had a previous Coronavirus infection. However, officials emphasized that there is no current evidence suggesting that this new variant leads to more severe illness than earlier ones.
The WHO also highlighted a significant drop in Coronavirus testing worldwide, with a 90% decrease from the peak of the pandemic. Testing rates have similarly declined in the US, and genetic sequencing has dropped by about 90%, as reported by Dr. Ashish Jha, who served as the White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator until June 2023.
