New, more contagious variant of COVID-19: what is known about the pyrola strain

Rospotrebnadzor reportedthat the new variant of the coronavirus “pirola” has a number of additional mutations compared to the “omicron” and is more contagious. What else is known about this strain is in the Kommersant material.

The first cases of infection with the new strain of coronavirus BA.2.86 “pirola” were identified in August 2023 in France. Currently, cases are known in more than ten countries, including the UK, USA, Denmark, Israel, and Switzerland.

WHO included BA.2.86 in the list of coronavirus variants under monitoring (VUM, variant under monitoring). Pyrola is believed to have more than 30 mutations. This feature allows the virus to bypass antibodies previously produced by the body. For the same reason, there is a possibility that the effectiveness of vaccines against the strain will be lower. However, according to Rospotrebnadzor, vaccines created for Omicron are also effective against Pyrola.

Experts from the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control note that existing Covid tests and medications are also effective against BA.2.86. In addition, there is currently no evidence that this subtype of the virus causes a more severe course of the disease than its predecessors.

The symptoms caused by Pirola have not yet been described due to the small number of cases, but, according to doctors, they are unlikely to differ from the general symptoms of coronavirus:

• heat;
• labored breathing;
• cough, runny nose, sneezing;
• headache, muscle and chest pain, general weakness;
• Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea are possible.

In Russia, strain BA.2.86 has not yet been identified.