Rapid Spread of BA.2.86 Variant Sparks Global COVID Monitoring Crisis

Global monitoring and reporting of COVID-19 cases and variants, including the concerning BA.2.86 variant, are severely lacking due to a significant decline in genetic surveillance. With only 10 sequences of BA.2.86 available from five countries, it remains unclear if this highly mutated variant can outspread other omicron subvariants or cause more severe disease. The World Health Organization (WHO) is receiving limited case count data from only 103 out of 234 countries and territories, hindering their ability to track trends and provide adequate care. The WHO has designated BA.2.86 as a "variant under monitoring" and will conduct a risk assessment to determine if it warrants a designation change.