New Covid variant shows up

The ever-evolving Covid-19 virus is learnt to have begotten yet another of its variants called BA.2.86. What makes it different from other existing strains is that it has gone through a large number of (some 36) mutations. And the most mutations have taken place in the virus's spike protein or S protein, which plays the critical role in infecting host cells through penetrating them. Meanwhile, the new variant of the coronavirus has been detected in three continents-Demark and the UK in Europe, the USA and Israel in Asia. The first three cases were detected in Denmark in late July this year followed by Israel, then in Michigan of the USA in August and lastly on Friday (August 18) in London, UK. With the London case, some six cases of infection by this new coronavirus variant have been detected. The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the USA are keeping track of this new coronavirus strain. So far, information gathered about BA.2.86 is scanty. Detected through genetic sequencing, scientists are concerned because, the S protein of the virus, which vaccines target to neutralise has undergone so many mutations. So, the question remains-is this new variant a threat to the vaccinated or previously Covid-19-infected patients' body cells? Dr. Wesley Long, Associate professor of Pathology and Genomic Medicine of the Houston Methodist, Texas, USA, for instance, wants to see if it outcompetes the 'EG.5 "Eris" sub-variant', descending from the Omicron lineage, XBB, that first surfaced in November 2021.
In Dr Wesley Long's view, since BA.2.86 comes from 'earlier branch' of the coronavirus, it differs from other variants targeted by the available vaccines. Dr. Eric Topol, a genetic expert at the Scripps Research Translational Institute, La Jolla, California, however, expressed concern because he thinks the trajectory of BA.2.86 does not look good at the moment. For this he blamed the apathy towards conducting tests on Covid patients nowadays and analysing the genomes of the viruses causing infections in the patients. It is the speed at which new cases from this variant are being detected that is concerning. In fact, due to the mutations, the structure of B.2.86 has changed radically from the previous variants. The fear is-- if the mutations have caused the virus to become highly transmissible.
In the USA, for instance, according to report from doctors, conditions of the patients suffering from the Eris variant of the Covid-9 are not as acute as they used to be during the earlier waves of the pandemic. However, his opinion about this little understood B.2. 86 variant of the coronavirus is that it may prove to be problematic, even fatal, for vulnerable populations.
Even so, experts believe, existing vaccines will prove effective against the new variant of the Covid-19. The producers of anti-Covid-19 vaccines like Moderna and Pfizer have developed updated versions of their booster vaccines. The updated vaccines have been designed to target the Omicron sub-variant XBB1.5. These vaccines are reported to be showing promise against the coronavirus variants like Eris and Formax now behind increasing number of infections in the USA and the UK.
The symptoms of the new Covid variant include the usual ones-runny nose, headache, sore throat, sneezing and fatigue. CDC's advice on protection against the new virus runs like this: "As we learn more about BA.2.86, CDC's advice on protecting yourself from Covid-19 remains the same".
All the previous waves of different coronavirus variants that populations across the globe have braved so far, it is believed, have developed a complex and robust immune system in them. And that is hopefully the best protection against any new variant of coronavirus.

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