a first case detected in France of the BA.2.86 variant, placed under surveillance by the WHO

2023-08-31 19:03:23

This sub-variant of Omicron, nicknamed “Pirola” and monitored by global health authorities, was detected this Friday in the Grand-Est, for the first time in France.

Closely monitored since the middle of the month by the World Health Organization and the American health authorities, BA.2.86 has arrived in France. A first case was detected this Thursday in the Grand-Est, we learned from Public Health France (SPF), confirming information from the Parisian.

“As part of the genomic surveillance piloted by Public Health France with the National Reference Center for Respiratory Infection Viruses, and as part of the activities of the EMERGEN consortium, a case of the BA.2.86 variant was detected in the Grand-Est, from the samples of the weekly Flash survey of August 21”, detailed SPF.

The organization announced that it had launched an investigation to “collect epidemiological information to document this first case”.

The WHO had 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”, wrote the organization on August 18 in its bulletin. epidemiological.

The fear of a resurgence

Nicknamed “Pirola” on social networks, this sub-variant might therefore escape the immunity acquired during previous vaccinations or contaminations.

Only four known sequences of this variant had been reported, with no known associated epidemiological link, explained the WHO. “The potential impact of BA.2.86 mutations is currently unknown and is being carefully assessed,” the organization said, stressing once once more 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).

Faced with the resurgence of the epidemic in recent weeks, Brigitte Autran, the president of the Committee for monitoring and anticipating health risks (Covars), had announced in Release that “the priority is to understand the new variant and to prepare the vaccination campaign”, also mentioning the variant EG.5.1, nicknamed Eris by some scientists and stemming from branch XBB.1.5.

She had recalled the importance of isolation in the event of infection, but had not yet considered it urgent to reinstate the wearing of the compulsory mask.

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