A new lineage of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 has been identified by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The lineage, named BA.2.86, has been detected in the United States, Israel and Denmark, and carries a large number of mutations that could affect its transmissibility and immune evasion.
What is BA.2.86 and why is it different?
BA.2.86 is a new variant of the Omicron strain of the coronavirus, which emerged in late 2021 and became the dominant strain worldwide. Unlike most other variants that have evolved from Omicron, BA.2.86 is thought to have originated from an earlier strain of Omicron, called BA.2, or perhaps from the original Omicron, BA.1.1.529.
This means that BA.2.86 has accumulated more than 30 mutations that separate it from other Omicron strains, making it as different from them as the first Omicron was from the original strain of COVID-19. Some of these mutations are located in the spike protein, which the virus uses to infect cells and which is targeted by vaccines and antibodies.
According to Jesse Bloom, a computational biologist at Fred Hutch Cancer Center in Seattle, Washington, and a top variant tracker, these mutations could potentially make BA.2.86 more immune-evasive and more infectious than other Omicron strains.
How widespread is BA.2.86 and how is it being tracked?
BA.2.86 was first reported in Denmark on August 12, 2023, where it was detected in two travelers who had returned from Israel. Since then, it has been found in 11 more cases in Denmark, as well as in four cases in Israel and one case in the US.
The WHO announced on August 17 that it had designated BA.2.86 as a “variant under monitoring”, the lowest of three levels of alert for new variants. This means that the WHO is gathering more information about the variant’s characteristics and potential impact on public health.
The CDC also announced on August 18 that it was tracking BA.2.86 and that it had been detected in the US. The CDC did not specify where or when the case was identified, but said that it was gathering more information and would share more about the lineage as it learned it.
Both the WHO and the CDC use a system of naming variants based on Greek letters, such as Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta for variants of concern, and Epsilon, Zeta, Eta and Theta for variants of interest. So far, only Omicron has been assigned a Greek letter for variants under monitoring.
However, some variant trackers have dubbed BA.2.86 as “Pirola”, after an asteroid, and suggested that it could be worthy of a Greek letter if it becomes more prevalent or shows signs of increased severity or vaccine resistance.
What are the implications of BA.2.86 for vaccines and treatments?
It is too early to say how BA.2.86 will affect the effectiveness of vaccines and treatments for COVID-19, as there is not enough data or studies available yet.
However, some experts have expressed concern that BA.2.86 could pose a challenge for the current vaccines, which are based on the original strain of COVID-19 or its variants such as Alpha or Beta.
Bloom said that some of the mutations in BA.2.86 could reduce the binding of antibodies generated by vaccines or previous infections to the spike protein of the virus.
He also said that some of the mutations could enhance the ability of the virus to enter cells or evade other parts of the immune system.
However, he cautioned that these predictions were based on computational models and laboratory experiments, and that they needed to be confirmed by real-world data and clinical trials.
He also said that even if BA.2.86 were to become more widespread or cause more severe disease, he would be very surprised if things got as bad as they did during the first wave of COVID-19 or during the Delta or Omicron waves.
He said that most people have some level of immunity from vaccination or prior infection, which could still offer some protection against BA.2.86 or other variants.
He also said that there are other tools available to combat COVID-19, such as masks, social distancing, testing, tracing and isolation.
He also said that there are new vaccines and treatments being developed that could target multiple variants or be updated more quickly to match new ones.
What are the recommendations for preventing BA.2.86 or other variants?
The best way to prevent BA.2.86 or any other variant of COVID-19 is to get vaccinated as soon as possible and to follow the public health guidelines in your area.
The WHO and the CDC have both stressed that vaccines are still the most effective way to prevent severe illness and death from COVID-19, and that they also reduce the risk of transmission and infection.
They have also urged people to get booster shots if they are eligible, as they can increase the level of antibodies and enhance the immune response against variants.
They have also advised people to wear masks, especially in indoor or crowded settings, to maintain physical distance from others, to avoid large gatherings, to wash their hands frequently, and to stay home if they are sick or have symptoms.
They have also encouraged people to get tested regularly and to report any cases or contacts to the health authorities.
They have also warned people to avoid non-essential travel, especially to areas with high transmission or variant circulation, and to follow the travel restrictions and requirements in place.
They have also asked people to stay informed and follow the latest updates and recommendations from reliable sources.
