Emerging BA.2.86 Variant Sparks Global COVID Concern

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are monitoring a highly mutated strain of COVID-19 known as BA.2.86 or "Pirola." This variant, which has been detected in several countries including the U.S., Denmark, and the UK, carries over 30 mutations that make it significantly different from other Omicron variants. While it is still unclear how BA.2.86 will impact symptoms and severity, experts believe that existing immunity and treatments should provide some level of protection. Despite the rise of this variant, experts do not expect it to cause a surge in hospitalizations and deaths comparable to previous waves of the virus.