What makes the new BA.2.86 a 'variant of concern'?
New strains of Coronavirus continue to appear in several parts of the world. A new variant, BA.2.86, is being carefully monitored by health officials around the world due to the large number of mutations it carries. So far, cases of BA.2.86 have been recorded in Israel, Denmark, the United Kingdom, and the United States, according to the global virus tracker GISAID. The spread is very small at the moment.
"The new BA.2.86 subvariant exhibits an unprecedented evolutionary leap with approximately 34 new mutations, in comparison to the Omicron subvariant BA.2, which caused the third wave in India, along with BA.1." Dr Rajesh Karyakarte, Maharashtra's coordinator for genome sequencing and a senior scientist with BJ Medical College, told TOI. Following are some common symptoms of COVID variant BA.2.86, according to health experts:
High fever
Fever is a sign that your body is trying to fight off infection. For that reason, it’s a common symptom of COVID-19. Fever can start anywhere from 2 days to 2 weeks after exposure to Coronavirus. However, not everyone who gets COVID will develop a fever.
Cough
According to the NHS UK, a dry cough is one of the most common coronavirus symptoms. However, some patients may have a cough with phlegm. It is important to consult your doctor, especially if the cough persists.
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Cold
Some of the most common COVID symptoms are like a flu or a cold, such as sore throat or runny nose.
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Loss of sense of smell and/or taste
If you experience this symptom, then food may taste bland, salty, sweet or metallic. These changes don't usually last long, however they can affect your appetite.
Should India be concerned?
COVID variants XBB.1.16 and XBB.2.3 are still the predominant variants in India.
Dr Vipin M Vashishtha, member, WHO's Vaccine Safety Net, said the current number of active or new Covid cases in India did not point to a surge. "If BA.2.86 enters India, the population's past immunity from vaccination or infection may not provide full protection as close to 17 or more mutations in this subvariant are absolutely new."