The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is tracking a new lineage of the virus that causes COVID-19 pandemic, called BA.2.86. The lineage has been detected in the United States, Denmark, and Israel, and has 36 mutations from the currently-dominant XBB.1.5 COVID variant.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified BA.2.86 as a “variant under monitoring” due to the large number of mutations it carries. However, experts say it’s too early to say if the variant will cause a surge in cases.
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“The most likely scenario is that BA.2.86 is less transmissible than current dominant variants, so it never spreads widely,” said Jesse Bloom, a virologist at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center. “But we need more sequencing data to be sure.”
Still Early to Call BA.2.86 a Real Threat
Dr. S. Wesley Long, medical director of diagnostic microbiology at Houston Methodist, said that it remains to be seen whether BA.2.86 will be able to out-compete other strains of the virus or have any advantage in escaping immune responses from prior infection or vaccination.
Boosters Still Effective
“My biggest concern would be that it could cause a bigger spike in cases than what we have seen in recent waves,” Dr. Long said. “The boosters will still help you fight off COVID in general.”
The CDC is advising people to continue to wear masks in indoor public settings and get vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19.
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Latest Updated COVID Pandemic Statistics:
- As of August 18, 2023, there have been over 690 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 worldwide and over 6.9 million deaths.
- The countries most affected by the pandemic are the United States, India, Brazil, France, and Germany.
- The most effective ways to protect yourself from COVID-19 are to get vaccinated and boosted, wear a mask in indoor public settings, and practice social distancing.
Key Takeaways
The CDC is tracking a new lineage of the COVID virus, BA.2.86, but experts say it’s too early to say if it will cause a surge in cases. The most likely scenario is that the variant is less transmissible than current dominant variants, but more sequencing data is needed to be sure. In the meantime, the CDC is advising people to continue to wear masks in indoor public settings and get vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19.