The World Health Organization and the American health authorities announced on Friday that they are closely monitoring a new variant of the Covid-19 virus, even if “for the moment the potential impact of the numerous mutations of BA.2.86 are unknown”. The WHO has decided to classify this new variant “in the category of variants under surveillance because of the very large number (more than 30) of mutations of the Spike gene that it carries”, writes the organization in its epidemiological bulletin devoted to the Covid-19 pandemic and broadcast overnight from Thursday to Friday.
Three tracked variants
It is the Spike protein that gives the virus its spiky appearance and is what allows SARS-CoV-2 to enter host cells. So far, this new variant has only been detected in Israel, Denmark and the United States. In the latter, the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) also indicated that they are closely monitoring the variant, in a message published on the social network X (ex-Twitter).
Currently, only four known sequences of this variant have been reported, with no known associated epidemiological link, explains the WHO. “The potential impact of the BA.2.86 mutations are currently unknown and are being carefully assessed,” the organization said, stressing once again the importance of continuing to monitor, sequence and notify authorities. competent to have an accurate and comprehensive view of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The WHO is currently tracking three variants of interest (XBB.1.5, XBB.1.16 and EG.5) and seven variants are classified under surveillance (BA.2.75, BA.2.86, CH.1.1, XBB, XBB.1.9.1 , XBB.1.9.2 and XBB.2.3). Most of the States that had put in place specific surveillance systems for the presence of the Covid-19 virus and its variants have generally dismantled them, considering that the threat was now less severe and no longer justified these expenses.
WHO calls for “better vigilance”
The WHO continues to denounce this “disarmament” and continues “to call for better monitoring, sequencing and reporting of Covid-19 as this virus continues to circulate and evolve”. If, since the beginning of May, the WHO no longer considers the pandemic as a global health emergency, “the virus continues to circulate in all countries, continues to kill and continues to change”, its director general Tedros stressed again last week. Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Over the last period under review (July 17 to August 13, 2023), more than 1.4 million new cases of Covid-19 and more than 2,300 deaths were notified, according to the WHO epidemiological bulletin. This represents an increase of 63% and a decrease of 56%, respectively, compared to the previous 28-day period.
As of August 13, 2023, over 769 million confirmed cases of Covid-19 and over 6.9 million deaths have been reported worldwide. The actual toll of infections and deaths is believed to be much heavier, with many cases having escaped the census.