Title: BA.2.86 Variant of COVID-19 responsible for 1 in 10 New Cases in the US, CDC Reports
Date: [Insert Date], Jala News
The BA.2.86 variant of COVID-19 is rapidly spreading in the United States, accounting for nearly 10% of new cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Over the past two weeks, the prevalence of this variant has almost tripled, with the Northeast region, particularly New York and New Jersey, experiencing the highest number of cases.
This is the first time that the BA.2.86 variant has been categorized as a standalone variant in the CDC’s estimates. Previously, it was grouped with other BA.2 strains. Prior to the emergence of BA.2.86, the XBB variant and its related descendants, including HV.1 and EG.5, were the predominant variants circulating in the US.
While the CDC’s estimates come with a wide margin of error, the latest data indicates that approximately 8.8% of new COVID-19 cases in the US can be attributed to the BA.2.86 variant. The World Health Organization (WHO) has also classified this variant and its descendants as a “variant of interest” in response to the increasing number of cases.
Early reports suggest that the BA.2.86 variant does not exhibit worse or different symptoms compared to previous strains. However, there has been a significant rise in the number of cases associated with this variant. The CDC concurs with the WHO’s assessment that the BA.2.86 variant poses a low public health risk and is not currently driving increases in infections or hospitalizations in the US.
Nevertheless, the CDC cautions that early projections may be less reliable, particularly as testing volume has decreased. As the US heads into winter, there has been a renewed increase in COVID-19 indicators across the country, with all regions experiencing at least slight increases.
A subvariant of the BA.2.86 variant called JN.1 has gained significant momentum globally, with a notable number of cases reported in Europe. Data suggests that approximately one-third of COVID-19 variants in the US are of the JN.1 variant.
The CDC predicts that the BA.2.86 variant and its subvariants, including JN.1, will continue to rise in proportion to SARS-CoV-2 genomic sequences. Early findings indicate that current COVID-19 tests, treatments, and vaccines are expected to be effective against the JN.1 variant, despite its resistance to neutralizing antibodies from vaccination or prior infection.
The BA.2.86 variant does pose a potential threat to the newly authorized COVID-19 vaccines, particularly if widespread administration of updated vaccines designed for the XBB variants takes place.
As the situation continues to evolve, health authorities are closely monitoring the spread and impact of these variants to ensure effective responses and protect public health.
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