New Variants of COVID and an Increase in Cases

EG.5 is currently the dominant variant in the United States. All of the variants we are currently dealing with are based on the Omicron strain, although they have slight differences. These variants possess mutations that increase their transmissibility between individuals and may also help them evade some prior immunity. BA.2.86 was recently detected in small numbers outside the United States, and there were concerns that its high mutation count would lead to uncontrolled spread, making it difficult for our immune systems to contain, whether through vaccination or prior COVID-19 infection. However, it seems that this variant is not as virulent and may not be as effective at evading immunity. Since Omicron became the dominant variant in the United States, we have observed fluctuations in the number of cases, but the severity of these cases is generally less severe. The landscape of COVID-19 in 2023 is vastly different from what we witnessed between March and December of 2020, when individuals were being placed on ventilators and experiencing high death rates. While we still observe mortality, the significance of COVID-19 lies in the sheer number of cases. Even with a low mortality rate, the high case count still amounts to a significant number and will likely continue to be a leading cause of respiratory-related deaths. It should be managed in a similar manner to the flu and RSV, with these three conditions often grouped together. Once a significant portion of the population has been infected or vaccinated, the number of cases will likely decline. However, we may never reach a point where we need to worry about hospital bed availability or ventilator shortages. Nevertheless, we should expect a respiratory viral season, which may become somewhat more normal as people stop wearing masks routinely and revert to previous behaviors that influence respiratory viral seasons. Masks are effective. While some meta-analyses have debated their benefits, a closer examination of the available data reveals that they do reduce risks. We have witnessed this within our hospital settings and the community. Therefore, although wearing masks outdoors may not be necessary, if you find yourself in a crowded area with high viral circulation and are at high risk, it is advisable to wear a KN95 mask, as they are readily available and have proven efficacy. Even the World Health Organization (WHO) said in a statement that, “on the basis of the available evidence, the public health risk associated with EG.5 at the global level is assessed as low.” The variant was first detected in China in February of 2023 and first detected in the US in April of 2023. It is a progeny of the XBB.1,1,1,2 Omicron variant. It has a notable mutation that allows it to evade antibodies produced by the immune system to older variants and vaccines. This advantage may be why it has become the predominant strain around the world, and may be one of the reasons why Covid cases are increasing again. "EG.5, also known as Eris, appears to have no new capacities in terms of its contagiousness, symptoms, or likelihood of causing severe disease,” said Dr Pekosz, adding that diagnostic tests and treatments like Paxlovid are still effective against it. The other new variant that scientists are closely monitoring is BA.2.86, nicknamed Pirola. Derived from another Omicron variant, BA.2.86 has been clearly linked to several dozen Covid cases on four continents, but experts suspect it is more widespread.

Scientists are particularly interested in this variant because of the number of mutations it carries. Many of them are found in the Spike protein, which the virus uses to infect human cells and which our immune system uses to identify it. The mutations in BA.2.86 represent “an evolutionary leap of similar magnitude,” according to Jesse Bloom, a professor at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center who studies viral evolution. for changes in the first Omicron variant compared to the original strain. of Corona virus. Data published by Chinese scientists on August 31 on X (formerly Twitter) showed that BA.2.86 is so different from previous versions of the virus that it easily evades antibodies used created in response to previous infections – even more so than EG5. Data (not yet published or peer-reviewed) suggests that the updated vaccine will not be highly effective against this virus. However, research also suggests that BA.2.86 may be less infectious than other variants - although studies carried out on cells in the laboratory do not always correlate with how it works of viruses in the real world.