WHO Reports 1.5 Million New Covid-19 Cases, Emergence of New Strain Raises Concern
The World Health Organization (WHO) has recently released its weekly report on Covid-19, presenting concerning figures of nearly 1.5 million new cases and over 2,000 deaths worldwide. However, the report also highlights the limited credibility of the data due to variations in testing and surveillance efforts across different countries. In light of this, the WHO urges its Member States to maintain their established Covid-19 infrastructure and not dismantle it.
The surge in cases has been linked to sublineages of the Omicron variant gaining predominance in virus transmission. Currently, the WHO is closely monitoring three sub-lineages in its variant of concern category, namely XBB.1.5, XBB.1.16, and EG.5 (also known as Eris). Additionally, the organization is keeping an eye on seven other sublineages, including BA.2.86, which some experts informally refer to as Pirola.
Although only a limited number of sequences of the BA.2.86 variant have been uploaded to the GISAID platform, it is believed that this sublineage is widespread globally. Scientists have observed that Pirola has undergone significant mutations, particularly in its Spike protein, making it challenging for antibodies generated by previous variants or vaccines to recognize and neutralize it.
Another variant of concern, EG.5, has become the dominant strain in the United States and has already been detected in Argentina. While it has the ability to evade immunity developed in response to previous variants and vaccines, it does not appear to possess any new capabilities in terms of contagiousness or severity of disease.
Experts are particularly concerned about the emergence of other variants with multiple mutations, known as FLip, which can enhance transmissibility. Although these variants currently represent a small proportion of Covid-19 cases, they have the potential to contribute to a further increase in infections in the coming weeks.
The pace of SARS-CoV-2 evolution is a significant cause for concern among experts. While no single variant has caused widespread havoc, the accumulation of mutations over time continues to impact the effectiveness of vaccines and the overall control of the virus.
As the global community faces these new challenges, it is crucial for countries to maintain robust surveillance and testing systems, as well as adhere to public health measures and vaccination campaigns. Ongoing research and vigilance are necessary to stay ahead of the virus’s evolution and ensure the effective management of the pandemic.
