The evolution of the SARS-CoV-2 virus continues to evolve worldwide and under the supervision of health authorities.

On November 21, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that after analyzing the evidence at the time, it had been decided to reclassify it as an omicron variant. The one identified as BA.2.86 went from supervised to interesting.

Since March 15 last year, WHO has updated its monitoring system and definitions, with three classifications: variants of concern, variants of interest and variants under monitoring.

Updated questions and answers about COVID-19

There are currently four interesting variants: XBB.1.5, XBB.1.16, EG.5 and BA.2.86.

The BA.2.86 variant is descended from BA.2 and the oldest sample dates from July this year. The organization has indicated that its prevalence has been slowly increasing.

“The current immunity of the global population remains highly cross-reactive with this variant, especially against severe disease but also against symptomatic disease, and therefore the emergence of this variant is unlikely to further burden systems.”

BA.2.86 was listed as a variant under monitoring in August this year.

One of the hallmarks is mutations in the Spike protein and according to specialists from Israel and Denmark, they had 34 amino acid substitutions in relation to BA.2.

“The number of peak amino acid mutations in the BA.2.86 variant relative to BA.2 and XBB.1.5 is comparable to the number of mutations in the early Omicron strains relative to the SARS-CoV-2 index strain.” .

The virus has been found in 46 countries. (JO)