The coronavirus has made itself known with a new and highly contagious strain of “pirola”

CrimeaPRESS reports:

The coronavirus variant (strain) BA.2.86, or “pyrola,” is more contagious than its predecessors. About it reports press service of Rospotrebnadzor.

The new coronavirus variant (BA.2.86) “pirola” has a number of additional mutations compared to previously identified “omicron” variants, and it is more contagious than its predecessorsthe message says.

In Russia there are tests to detect pyrola, as well as drugs for effective treatment of the disease caused by this genovariant, Rospotrebnadzor added.

Updated vaccines, created specifically for the Omicron variant, are effective in reducing severe forms of the disease and the number of hospitalizations. In addition, early results from laboratory studies in China and Sweden suggest that the variant may not be as contagious or as capable of evading immune defenses as previously stated by some scientists, and is not considered a «second variant.» the coming of «omicron»— stated the press service.

The first cases of infection with the new strain of coronavirus BA.2.86 “pirola” were identified in August 2023 in France. Currently, cases are known in more than ten countries, including the UK, USA, Denmark, Israel, and Switzerland.

WHO included BA.2.86 in the list of coronavirus variants under monitoring (VUM, variant under monitoring). Pyrola is believed to have more than 30 mutations. This feature allows the virus to bypass antibodies previously produced by the body. For the same reason, there is a possibility that the effectiveness of vaccines against the strain will be lower. However, according to Rospotrebnadzor, vaccines created for Omicron are also effective against Pyrola.

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