The Pirola Covid variant hasn’t officially been confirmed as a ‘variant of concern’ by the UK’s health watchdog, but it’s caused concern among scientists over its number of mutations
Public health officials have confirmed more cases of the rapidly mutating 'Pirola' Covid variant have been found in the UK.
Public Health Scotland (PHS) says the first case of BA.2.86 was identified through PCR testing from a sample collected on August 16.
The virus hasn't officially been confirmed as a 'variant of concern' by the UK's health watchdog, but it's caused concern among scientists over its high number of mutations.
The latest confirmed cases in Scotland added to the previous case spotted in England earlier this month.
Scottish wastewater surveillance data revealed the presence of the Covid mutation in a different NHS Health Board. That means it has been found in at least two different areas of Scotland, according to STV News.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is examining the new variant, it confirmed. It had previously brought forward this year's flu and Covid autumn vaccine programme after the emergency of the BA.2.86 coronavirus variant.
It said the move was purely precautionary, although it said the virus appeared to have a high number of mutations.
The UKHSA said: "While BA.2.86 is not currently classified as a variant of concern, advice from UKHSA suggests that speeding up the autumn vaccine programme will deliver greater protection, supporting those at greatest risk of severe illness and reducing the potential impact on the NHS."
All seasonal vaccinations will now start from September 11, with adult care home residents and the clinically-vulnerable first in line for vaccines.
UKHSA Chief Executive Dame Jenny Harries said the emergence of new coronavirus variants wasn't unexpected. She said: "As we continue to live with COVID-19 we expect to see new variants emerge.
"Thanks to the success of our vaccine programme, we have built strong, broad immune defences against new variants throughout the population. However, some people remain more vulnerable to severe illness from COVID-19. This precautionary measure to bring forward the autumn programme will ensure these people have protection against any potential wave this winter.
"There is limited information available at present on BA.2.86 so the potential impact of this particular variant is difficult to estimate. As with all emergent and circulating COVID-19 variants – both in the UK and internationally – we will continue to monitor BA.2.86 and to advise government and the public as we learn more. In the meantime, please come forward for the vaccine when you are called."
The Pirola variant was first found in London earlier this month, in someone with no recent travel history. That meant there could already be "significant community transmission" among Britons.
The variant is said to be gnomically distant from its likely ancestor the BA.2 variant, nicknamed "stealth Omicron". That variant gained its nickname from the fact it is more transmissible than the original Omicron strain, which originated in southern Africa and was first detected in the UK in late 2021.
The strain was first detected in Denmark on July 24 and was also found in that country on July 31, the same day it was discovered in Israel. A case in the US was detected earlier this month.
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