Covid-19: “This new variant may be more contagious than the previous one,” warns this infection scientist

The World Health Organization (WHO) and US health authorities announced last Friday that they are closely monitoring the new variant of the coronavirus, BA.2.86, due to its many mutations.

Should we worry about the new variant of Covid-19? Known as BA.2.86, it was classified as High Watch last Friday by the World Health Organization (WHO) and health authorities in the United States.

“What we know at the moment is that it may be a little more infectious than previous variants, maybe the efficacy of the vaccines is a little bit lower, and again, that’s something that still needs to be proven,” said Jean-Paul Stahl. , an infectious disease specialist, on CNEWS. In the face of uncertainty, some specialists prefer to use measurements. The circulation of the virus does not currently appear to directly affect hospitals.

The effect of these mutations is still unknown but is being watched

In the US, the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) has also indicated that they are closely monitoring the variant, in a message posted on the social network X (formerly Twitter).

“The potential impact of BA.2.86 mutations is currently unknown and is being carefully evaluated,” says the organization, which once again stresses the importance of continued monitoring, sequencing and notification of relevant authorities to obtain an accurate and comprehensive view of the Covid-19 pandemic.

So far, this new variant has only been detected in Israel, Denmark and the United States, and health authorities in the United Kingdom also confirmed a case on Friday.