The World Health Organization (WHO) and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) discovered in early August a new mutation of COVID-19 that has some distinctions from other previous variants.
This new variant is known as BA.2.86 and has been nicknamed Pirola. According to the CDC, as of Aug. 23, there have been nine confirmed cases reported globally and two in the United States.
WHO has classified BA.2.86 as a “variant under monitoring” because of its large number of mutations.
“There’s about 36 mutations,” said Dr. Krista Queen, Director of Viral Genomics and Surveillance at LSU Health Shreveport.
According to Queen, the reason why this variant is causing researchers to raise their eyebrows is because of the number of mutations compared to Omicron. “A lot of these mutations are in regions of the virus that we know can affect antibody neutralization. So, that would affect how well some of our vaccines work,” said Queen.
Genomic sequencing on the new variant is low with only nine confirmed cases globally. Queen said, “what’s interesting is that it has been identified in wastewater samples.” Meaning that this virus is being transmitted all over the place, but because testing is down genomic sequencing has decreased.
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Although genomic sequencing on this variant is low, the cases that have been confirmed worldwide have been mild and even asymptomatic for individuals.
According to the CDC, the updated vaccine, coming out later this fall, will be effective at reducing severe disease and hospitalization with BA.2.86. “This variant is not a perfect match for that vaccine, but you are still going to get some good coverage,” said Queen.
Queen continued by saying the most important thing to remember about this new variant is to adhere to the normal COVID-19 precautions. Because while cases are low they have increased consistently over the past few weeks with EG.5 and EG.5.1.
On Aug. 18, the CDC reported that EG.5 was estimated to make up 20.6% of new infections.
“Hospitalization have been going up,” said Queen. “Not because of the virus, lineage is more severe, mostly because the cases are just increasing so much with this variant circulating.”
The EG.5 and EG.5.1 variant is known for having respiratory symptoms and according to Queen medical professionals are seeing a much lower number of patients with fever.
With the introduction of a new variant that has numerous mutations, Queen said people should not be concerned about a future lockdown.
“At this point really the opportunity to control and if we were ever going to really be able to control SARS-CoV-2 as a virus has really passed, and so now it’s much more about living with it as it is going to become endemic,” said Queen.
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She continued by saying the most appropriate way to approach these outbreaks is by adopting an approach to masking when not feeling well, masking in large crowds and reducing the spread.
“Masking is a great thing that we can all do to help reduce the spread in these kinds of larger group settings,” said Queen. “Hopefully it becomes a seasonal virus, and we just have these kinds of waves.”
Researchers and doctors at LSU Health Shreveport are continuing to do genomic surveillance, and testing by those do feel unwell can aid in that research.
“Knowledge is power,” said Queen. “If you get tested and you’re positive, you can implement some changes to make sure you reduce the risk to those around you and then also your sample might end up helping us with our genomic surveillance, so we know what’s happening in this area.”
Mary Walrath-Holdridge contributed to this story.
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Makenzie Boucher is a reporter with the Shreveport Times. Contact her at mboucher@gannett.com.