Highly mutated COVID variant BA.2.86 detected in Switzerland and South Africa, in addition to other countries but pandemic in ‘a different phase’
A highly mutated COVID variant named BA.2.86 has been identified in Switzerland and South Africa, along with Israel, Denmark, the US, and the UK, according to a leading official from the World Health Organization (WHO), Reuters reported.
“We are in a very different phase (of the pandemic) than if this popped up in the first year,” said Dutch virologist and WHO adviser, Marion Koopmans.
This offshoot of Omicron carries over 35 mutations in crucial parts of the virus when compared to XBB.1.5, which was the predominant variant in most of 2023. This mutation count is roughly similar to the original Omicron variant that caused a surge in infections compared to its predecessor.
BA.2.86 was first detected in Denmark on July 24 when it infected a patient at risk of severe illness. Subsequently, it has been found in symptomatic patients, routine airport screenings, and wastewater samples in a few countries.
A group of international scientists suggests that while monitoring BA.2.86 is essential, it’s unlikely to trigger a devastating wave of severe disease and fatalities, considering the global immunity built up through vaccinations and previous infections.
Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO’s COVID-19 technical lead, stated that the number of cases is still relatively low. The fact that known cases aren’t linked suggests that it is already circulating more widely, especially given reduced global surveillance.