Scientists are closely monitoring a new variant of Covid-19 called Pirola, which has spread in parts of the UK in recent months.
There were 97,904 new symptomatic Covid cases in the UK to 25 November 2023, according to research from ZOE Health, and the latest government figures show there have been 287 Covid deaths recorded in the last seven days.
The first case of pyrola was discovered in Denmark at the end of July, and the first cases of infection occurred in the UK at the end of August after an outbreak in a care home in Norfolk.
The virus, officially known as the BA.2.86 variant, has been detected in 12 EU countries and is a descendant of Omicron’s BA.2 subvariant, which was responsible for a surge in cases in early 2022.
Omicron first appeared in late 2021 and quickly became the cause of the majority of Covid cases worldwide.
What are the symptoms of Pirol?
Symptoms are similar to those of the parent variant Omicron:
- Heat;
- Persistent cough;
- Runny nose;
- aches and pains;
- changes in taste and smell;
- Fatigue.
However, new symptoms not usually associated with Omicron have also been identified. New scientistHow
- Diarrhea;
- eye irritation;
- rash.
As winter approaches, cases are expected to rise and people will spend more time indoors while the government continues to recommend mask-wearing and regular testing.
Around 26 million people are eligible for a second Covid-19 vaccine in the autumn and have been asked to register for a jab.
However, the Government has been criticized for scrapping free flu jabs as around 12 million people aged 50 to 64 will no longer be eligible under the latest plans from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization (JCVI).
Speaking at the start of the autumn vaccination programme, Dame Jenny Harris, chief executive of the UKHSA, said: “As we continue to live with Covid-19, we expect new variants to emerge.” have a strong and broad immune defense against new viruses among the established population. However, some people remain more vulnerable to severe illness from Covid-19.”
How contagious is the Pirola variant?
Scientists say the new Pirola subvariant may be significantly less contagious than previously thought. According to the government of A. lancet Research has shown that the infection rate of BA.2.86 is significantly lower than the B.1.1 and EG.5.1 variants.
This allayed concerns that due to the number of genetic mutations Pinola compared to Omicron, the variant could evade immunity built up through previous infections and vaccinations, allowing the disease to spread faster and increase the overall number of Covid cases.
Professor Francois Balloux, Director of the UCL Institute of Genetics, said: “BA.2.86 (Pirola) is an intriguing variant.
“It carries an unusual cluster of mutations that on paper make it a prime candidate for an immune escape variant similar to the early Omicron strains that spread rapidly in late 2021.”
“However, BA.2.86 does not actually appear to be very transmissible. Its abundance remains low worldwide and appears to have declined in relative abundance.”
Source: I News
I’m Raymond Molina, a professional writer and journalist with over 5 years of experience in the media industry. I currently work for 24 News Reporters, where I write for the health section of their news website. In my role, I am responsible for researching and writing stories on current health trends and issues. My articles are often seen as thought-provoking pieces that provide valuable insight into the state of society’s wellbeing.