News

#What to know about COVID Pirola: New lineage BA.2.86 seen in US differs from other variants

Table of Contents

Coronavirus Covid-19 new variant mutation. Covid pandemic, 3d illustration

The World Health Organization (WHO) and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have announced another addition to their lists tracking variants of COVID-19 — and this one may be a little different.

Described by the CDC as a new lineage of the virus that causes COVID-19, the mutation has some distinctions from other variants.

BA.2.86, nicknamed Pirola, was added to the CDC watch list on Thursday, following its addition to the WHO’ SARS-CoV-2 variant monitoring list, garnering attention despite the small number of officially reported cases. Though there were only seven confirmed cases reported by the CDC as of August 19, the virus has been detected in multiple countries on multiple continents, including the United States, Denmark, Israel and the U.K.

COVID variant Eris: What is COVID Eris? What we know about variant spreading in the UK, US this summer

What is the COVID variant Pirola ?

Pirola is a nickname given to BA.2.86, a new lineage of virus that causes COVID-19.

According to GISAID, an open global genome sequencing database, BA.2.86 has over 30 mutations, more than other variants currently circulating, and was classified by the WHO as having a “large number of mutations.”

Scientists have yet to determine if these mutations may result in a higher rate of transmissions.

CDC is tracking a new lineage of the virus that causes COVID-19. This lineage is named BA.2.86, and has been detected in the United States, Denmark and Israel. CDC is gathering more information and will share more about this lineage as we learn it.

— CDC (@CDCgov) August 18, 2023

Where is the new variant Pirola spreading?

Pirola has been detected in four countries, including Denmark, Israel, the U.S. and U.K.

According to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, one case of BA.2.86 was detected in Washtenaw County, Michigan, last week. The case reportedly impacted an older adult who showed “mild” symptoms that did not immediately require hospitalization.

According to the statement, officials are unsure if the new lineage poses any risks beyond the variants that are already widely circling. With many states and countries no longer reporting to a centralized COVID tracking system, cases are now generally tracked by less reliable standards, largely hospitalizations and wastewater data.

Even these limited standards have shown a recent increase in cases in a number of countries, including the U.S. CDC data ending the week of August 5 showed weekly hospitalizations were up 14.3% from 9,026 to 10,320.

In England, there was a 17.4% increase in hospitalizations the week ending August 12 versus the seven days prior, according to the UKHSA.

That said, numbers are still in a much better place compared to prior surges and the use of vaccines, exposure to existing variants and hygiene best practices all contribute to safeguarding against another widespread outbreak.

Vaccine considerations: Left or right arm: Choosing where to get vaccinated matters, study suggests. Here’s why

Statement from the Michigan Health Department on the state’s first case of COVID variant BA.2.86.

The patient, an older adult, has “mild symptoms” and is currently not in hospital. pic.twitter.com/lgQ6LU8vrW

— BNO News (@BNOFeed) August 20, 2023

What are the symptoms of Pirola?

Because BA.2.86 is so new, it is not yet known if it will present any unique symptoms. As a result, the CDC said indicators to look out for and advice on protecting yourself remains the same as with existing variants. Some symptoms may include:

Runny or stuffy nose
Headache
Fatigue
Sneezing
Sore throat
Coughing
Changes to sense of smell

What to do if you test positive

If you believe you may have COVID or test positive, the CDC suggests several ways to treat the symptoms and stop the spread.

Stay home and separate from others.
Improve ventilation in your home.
Mask with an N-95 or other high-quality mask when around other people.
Keep up to date on COVID vaccines and boosters.
Monitor symptoms and stay in touch with your healthcare provider.
Take medications and treatments as prescribed.
Rest and use over-the-counter medications to manage symptoms like headache.
Practice hygiene such as washing hands often and cleaning shared surfaces.
Use their testing and treatment location tool to find resources in your area.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What to know about COVID Pirola lineage that differs from other variants

If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on Google News too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.