Highly Mutated BA.2.86 COVID Virus Variant Raises Concerns In Multiple Countries
The BA.2.86 COVID variant, which is highly mutated, is spreading globally, causing alarm in a number of countries due to the possible impact on public health and immunisation efforts.
As the world continues to fight COVID-19, a new and highly mutated form, BA.2.86, has emerged in many nations, raising concerns among health experts and lawmakers alike.
On August 17, the World Health Organization designated BA.2.86 as a variation under surveillance. Though only a few samples exist, the virus's spread over many continents since its discovery in late July, combined with its extremely high number of mutations, has COVID experts on high alert.
BA.2.86 is most likely descended from BA.2, an Omicron descendant that helped launch a wave of illnesses in spring 2022, according to the ever-expanding SARS-CoV-2 family tree.
It has been found at least seven times in four nations, including Israel, Denmark, the United States, and the United Kingdom, all in a matter of weeks.
COVID Variant Ba.2.86 Spreads Worldwide: What You Need To Know
Credit: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
This Omicron offshoot has more than 30 mutations in its spike protein relative to BA.2. It is significantly different regarding the number of mutations compared to the original virus or the XBB strain targeted by upcoming fall vaccines.
"It is unusual for [this virus] to change so significantly and develop 30 new mutations," said Morten Rasmussen, a senior researcher at Denmark's Statens Serum Institute (SSI).
"The most likely scenario is that this variant is less transmissible than current dominant variants, and thus never spreads widely," wrote Jesse Bloom, a virologist and researcher in the United States, in a series of social media posts about BA.2.86's evolution.
What Mutations Mean And Why They're Hard To Predict
The importance of mutations is "sometimes difficult to predict," according to virologist David Evans, a professor at the University of Alberta in Edmonton's Departments of Medical Microbiology and Immunology.
Evans believes widespread alterations in the virus's spike protein are not surprising but rather a means for SARS-CoV-2 to continue dodging the human immune system's front-line defences.
This could lead to more infections, even among those who have already been vaccinated or are sick. Still, according to Evans, it is unlikely to result in anything approaching the mortality seen early in the pandemic.
"I think we have to be careful about having a breathless discussion about every new strain and look at the data first," he added.
Credit: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
"Is this much ado about nothing?" wondered Dr. Isaac Bogoch, an infectious disease specialist at the University Health Network in Toronto. "Or will this take off and become a dominant sublineage?" The answers are not yet obvious.
According to a risk assessment by UK health officials, the overall effect of BA.2.86's enormous number of mutations is difficult to predict. Still, it likely signifies a "significant" alteration to the virus and how it acts.
The only reported case in the United Kingdom was found in a patient examined at a London hospital on August 13 "with no recent travel history," implying some amount of community transmission.
Given the quick appearance of samples in numerous countries, the risk assessment concluded that it had likely established international transmission as well.
According to US media reports, US health officials are also watching BA.2.86, which emerged once in Michigan in an older adult with minor symptoms who was not hospitalized during their illness.
In Virginia, another case was discovered. Meanwhile, three other cases discovered in Denmark were unrelated, according to Danish officials, who added that it is "still too early to say anything about the severity and contagiousness of the new variant." Denmark's SSI said it is also investigating and cultivating the virus version to test it against antibodies.
Credit: Public Health Agency of Canada
Tyra Grove Krause, the SSI's executive vice president for epidemiology and infectious disease preparation, stated that none of the preliminary patients exhibited symptoms "other than those normally seen" during COVID-19.
In The Middle Of The Covid Wave, A New Variant Emerges
All of this is reassuring, according to Bogoch, though he emphasises that it is still too early to tell what this variety has in store. "We know a lot about the genetics," he explained, "but we don't know much about transmissibility or clinical presentation."
The variety appears to be emerging as much of the world, including Canada, is entering a COVID wave in the fall. Another Omicron subvariant, EG.5, is currently prevalent in the United States and rising overseas, potentially fueling more infections.
However, Bogoch emphasised that the immunological landscape has changed considerably over the years, as practically everyone in Canada has been exposed by vaccination, infection, or both, which means that most variations are now less likely to spark majo
"We're dealing with a different Canada and world now," he explained.
What do you think about it? Do let us know in the comments.
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