A new variant of the coronavirus known as BA.2.86 and unofficially named pyrolahas become a matter of concern among public health experts.

Although it is too early to determine the level of its transmissibility compared to previous strains of the virus, this variant has more than 30 mutations in the spike protein, in contrast to the XBB.1.5 variant. omicron which dominated the US.

Peak protein is needed for viruses enter human cellsand the presence of a large number of mutations in this region, experts consider noticeable.

According to Dr. Scott Roberts, an infectious disease specialist at Yale medicinethese mutations in BA.2.86 are comparable in number to the mutations that distinguished the Delta variant from previous strains.

Dr. Roberts notes that when the Omicron variant appeared in winter 2021 took place significant rise in Covid-19 cases due to their marked differences compared to delta optionallowing him to avoid the immunity provided by both previous infections and vaccination.

Another problem related to Pyrola lies in the fact that it has been found in at least six countries., and the cases don’t seem to be related to each other. This suggests that this variant may spread more widely than previously thought, especially at a time when Covid-19 surveillance has weakened.

The main uncertainty is whether BA.2.86 will experience an exponential increase in cases similar to Omicron, or whether it will eventually disappear.