A highly mutated strain of the virus that causes COVID-19, known as BA.2.86, is being closely monitored by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO). The lineage, which has been detected in the United States, Denmark, and Israel, has garnered attention due to the large number of mutations it carries. The WHO has classified BA.2.86 as a "variant under monitoring, " and the CDC is actively researching and seeking more information about the new lineage.

The BA.2.86 variant is considered to be a "variant under monitoring" by the WHO due to its significant mutations. The organization emphasized the need for more data and surveillance to fully understand the variant and its potential spread. The WHO is currently tracking a total of three variants of interest and seven variants under monitoring.

The CDC spokesperson Kathleen Conley stated that scientists are currently studying the newly identified lineage and will provide updates as more information becomes available. The CDC's primary concern is to detect and respond to changes in the COVID-19 virus, and they are confident in their ability to do so.

Virologists and experts have expressed their concerns about BA.2.86. Dr. Wesley Long, medical director of diagnostic microbiology at Houston Methodist, explained that the variant "harkens back to an earlier branch" of the virus. It is yet to be determined if BA.2.86 will out-compete other strains of the virus or have any advantage in evading immune responses from prior infections or vaccinations.

According to virologist Jesse Bloom, early analysis suggests that the BA.2.86 variant may have equal or greater ability to evade antibodies elicited by pre-Omicron and first-generation Omicron variants compared to the XBB.1.5 variant. This could potentially lead to a higher number of cases if the variant spreads widely.

Despite concerns, experts believe that the current boosters will still provide protection against COVID-19 caused by BA.2.86. Dr. Long emphasized the importance of getting vaccinated and following public health measures to prevent the spread of the virus.

The BA.2.86 variant is still relatively rare, with only a few cases reported in different countries. However, its emergence raises questions about the effectiveness of current vaccines that target the XBB.1.5 subvariant. Pfizer, Moderna, and other vaccine manufacturers have developed updated versions of their shots to target the XBB.1.5 subvariant, but the BA.2.86 variant's mutations could potentially make the vaccines less effective.

Tracking the spread of the BA.2.86 variant is crucial to understanding its potential impact. Another related variant, EG.5, has already accounted for more than 17% of COVID-19 cases in the United States. Experts suggest that BA.2.86 will need to demonstrate its ability to outcompete other fast-spreading descendants of the XBB Omicron variant to have a significant impact.

The emergence of the BA.2.86 variant coincides with the upcoming rollout of new COVID-19 vaccines targeting the XBB strains. Moderna has reported preliminary data showing a significant boost in neutralizing antibodies against the EG.5 variant. However, if the BA.2.86 variant spreads more widely, it could pose a setback to the effectiveness of these vaccines.

Overall, while the BA.2.86 variant is still a rare occurrence, scientists and health authorities continue to monitor its spread and study its impact. The ongoing efforts to understand and respond to changes in the virus highlight the importance of surveillance, sequencing, and reporting of COVID-19 to effectively combat the pandemic.