The World Health Organization has named BA.2.86 as one of seven “variants under surveillance,” the lowest of the three levels of the UN organization’s tracking system. The last version before Pirola, Eris, for example, is already registered as the second, medium-level variant causing concern.
At the same time, Moderna and Pfizer announced that their updated vaccines also appear to be effective against Pirola.
According to the Covid variant tracking system, Pirola has so far been detected in 15 countries worldwide, including:
- Denmark
- France
- USA
- Sweden
- Thailand
- Israel
- Spain
- Canada
- Portugal
- Australia
- Germany
- South Korea
- Japan
The number of diseases caused by the highly mutated new Covid variant, Pirola, has increased in the United Kingdom, which has encouraged the British government to bring forward the autumn vaccinations, writes the Independent. The UK Health Safety Agency (UKHSA) has confirmed 34 cases of Pirola in England as of 4 September. Five people were hospitalized, but no deaths were reported. Of the 34 cases, 28 stem from a single outbreak at a care home in Norfolk, UKHSA said. The other six cases occurred in East Anglia, London and North West England.
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