Highly contagious variants of COVID-19 have the world worried about its safety. After several attempts, we were able to repel the threat. However, the micro-villain is unwilling to back down. Now, the emergence of the BA.2.86 Covid variant, nicknamed Pirola, has raised concerns among health experts as it has high mutation and is spreading rapidly.
The Pirola variant is believed to display a unique combination of mutations in the spike protein, which has raised fears about its potential impact on vaccine effectiveness and transmissibility. Since there’s a lot of speculation about whether it’s dangerous or not, Health Shots asked experts to shed some light on the Pirola COVID-19 variant.
What is the COVID-19 variant Pirola?
The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed in its September epidemiological update that it is monitoring seven variants of SARS-CoV-2, including BA.2.86 or Pirola. This sub-variant was first reported in Denmark in late July. Global health authority recognized BA.2.86 As a new change in surveillance.
“Pirola or BA.2.86 is one of the lineages of the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus. It is currently on the WHO’s list of ‘variants under surveillance’. Pirola cases are in Israel, Denmark and the US. It is more dangerous than previous variants because it has more than 30 spike protein mutations that are different from Omicron’s XBB 1.5 version, This gives it the ability to evade immunity and be highly transmissible,” explains Dr Charu Dutt AroraInfectious disease specialist and consultant physician at AmeriHealth, Asian Hospital.
“The Pirola variant, which is a variant of Omicron XBB, has more than 30 mutations so it has to be monitored and could cause a large number of cases. It is expected to be mild. yes, it has increased COVID-19 cases, but it is important to recognize the danger by genome testing and take precautions,” says Dr Hemlata Arora, senior consultant in internal medicine at Nanavati Max Hospital.
What are the symptoms of COVID-19 variant Pirola?
While only a few cases of the Priola variant have been found worldwide, no deaths have been reported so far. No cases of Pirola have been reported in India, but experts are saying that the symptoms of this variant are similar to the early symptoms of other COVID-19 variants:
- runny or stuffy nose
- Fever
- cough
- Tiredness
- Sneeze
Is COVID-19 variant Pirola a threat to India?
While the Pirola variant is spreading in many countries, it has not yet reached India. Dr. Arora says cases are definitely on the rise, but taking precautions like proper genomic testing and taking the Omicron-specific boosters now available can reduce the risk of infection.
Dr Dutt says India has seen several waves in the last three years and there is no need to panic. Most of the population has been vaccinated, so they are protected by their natural and passive antibody-induced immunity.
It is important for everyone to get vaccinated and take proper precautions. Vulnerable populations including children, elderly citizens, those with weakened immune systems or those suffering from co-morbid diseases should follow appropriate measures to avoid problems. Experts say with monsoon around the corner and flu season approaching, it is important to follow precautionary measures to control the spread of the disease.
Beware of new Covid-19 variants
The Pirola variant of Covid displays a unique combination of mutations in the spike protein, which has raised fears about its potential impact on vaccine effectiveness and transmissibility. Scientists are working diligently to understand the characteristics of the variant and assess its actual threat level. However, at present this threat is not considered to be very serious for India because no case of variant BA.2.86 has been reported yet.
However, it is a reminder that the fight against the coronavirus pandemic is not over. Although the sharp decline in cases has made people ignore the need for constant vigilance, it is important that we focus on taking precautions. We must remain adaptive and flexible to face emerging challenges in our fight against COVID-19.