COVID variant Pirola sends alarm bells ringing for WHO

It seems the COVID fear is not over yet and new variants are still keeping countries on their toes to keep taking measures to fight this deadly virus responsible for economic and health crises across the world. A new variant called Pirola has now triggered an alarm across many European countries and Asia.

Pirola is the unofficial name of a new COVID-19 variant. This is a subvariant of the Omicron variant and was first detected in Denmark in late July 2023. Since July, it has already been found in several other countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Israel.

BA.2.86 has 35 mutations that set it apart from other Omicron subvariants, including several mutations in the spike protein, which is the part of the virus that attaches to human cells. These mutations could make BA.2.86 more transmissible or resistant to immunity from vaccines or previous infections.

However, it is still too early to say how severe the new variant Pirola is but some studies have suggested that it may be more transmissible than previous Omicron subvariants. In comparison, some experts have found no difference in transmissibility.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has designated BA.2.86 as a “variant of interest”. It means that it is being monitored closely because it has the potential to be more transmissible or severe than other variants.

If the new virus is likely to cause more severe illness or death then countries across are likely to ramp up their preparations against this new variant.

Health experts suggest that it is crucial to get vaccinated and boosted, wearing a mask in public, and practicing good hygiene.