Covid-19: Former FDA boss says experts are ‘concerned’ about new Pirola variant, here's why

Covid variants are on the rise and experts are starting to worry. We were recently told that vaccinations don’t necessarily work for everyone and that masks may have to make a comeback.

Now, a new variant known as BA.X, BA.2.86 or Pirola has come into the picture.

Why are experts ‘pretty concerned’?

Dr Scott Gottlieb, who was an FDA commissioner for two years, has admitted that the Pirola variant seems different from those we have seen before. He explains that, though there is no evidence to suggest this variant is more serious, it is ‘highly mutated’. The Daily Mail notes that the Pirola variant ‘stems from an ‘earlier branch’ of the coronavirus, so it differs from the variant targeted by current vaccines’.

Appearing on CBS’s Face the Nation on 20 August, Dr Gottlieb shared that he has talked to ‘a number of virologists who are usually pretty staid and they're pretty concerned about this.’ The reason being that ‘this new variant is as genetically different from Omicron as Omicron was from the original strain that emerged in Wuhan’.

Read more: New Covid-19 'Eris' variant is spreading amongst Brits, here is how worried you should be

Which countries have already been hit by Pirola?

The variant was first spotted in Israel and has since been picked up in Denmark, the United States and the United Kingdom, where vaccines will reportedly be sold on the private market.CNN reports that there were three cases in Denmark, but they are in people who do not appear to have had contact with one another and live in different parts of the country.

What are scientists saying?

SSI scientists are stressing that it is too early to say anything concrete about the risk this new variant may pose. According to CNN, they are working on growing the virus to test it against antibodies.

As for Pirola’s grip in the UK, Dr Meera Chand, Deputy Director, UKHSA said:

We are aware of one confirmed case in the UK. UKHSA is currently undertaking detailed assessment and will provide further information in due course.

Read more:

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⋙ New Eris Covid variant is fast-spreading across the UK, find out how badly your town is affected

Sources used:

Daily Mail:Former FDA boss says he's 'concerned' about new COVID variant 'Pirola'

CNN: Scientists race to understand highly mutated coronavirus variant spotted in four countries, including the US