a new variant closely watched by the WHO and the United States

2023-08-18 06:54:00

This new variant, detected in particular in the United States, is under surveillance because of the “very large number” of mutations it carries.

By VD with AFP

Published on 08/18/2023 at 08:54

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Lhe World Health Organization and US health authorities announced on Friday August 18 that they were closely monitoring a new variant of the Covid-19 virus, although “for the time being the potential impact of the numerous mutations of BA .2.86 is 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 on the night of Thursday August 17 to Friday August 18.

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 were closely observing the variant, in a message published on the social network X (ex-Twitter).

An evaluation in progress

Currently, only four known sequences of this variant have been reported, with no known associated epidemiological link, explains the WHO. “The potential impact of BA.2.86 mutations is currently unknown and is being carefully assessed,” the organization said, stressing 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.

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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, believing that the threat was now less severe and no longer justified these expenses.

“The virus continues to circulate”

The WHO continues to denounce this “disarmament” and calls for “better monitoring, sequencing and reporting of Covid-19 while this virus is still circulating and evolving”. 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”, underlined once more last week its director general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

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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 higher, with many cases having escaped the census.

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