Brace Yourself: BA.2.86 Variant Triples its Presence in the United States
Emerging COVID Strain Spreads Across the United States
New COVID Variant Spreading in the US
The latest government data is in, and it’s got us raising our eyebrows (and straightening our face masks). The highly mutated BA.2.86 variant of COVID-19 has gone from the new kid on the block to a force to be reckoned with in just two weeks. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, almost 1 in 10 new COVID cases can now be attributed to this sneaky little variant.
This new twist in the COVID story is spreading like wildfire, especially in the Northeast. In fact, over 13% of cases in the New York and New Jersey region are believed to be the result of BA.2.86’s shenanigans.
Now, before you go locking yourself in a bubble, let’s back up a bit. Scientists first alerted us to this highly mutated troublemaker back in August, but since then, it’s been making itself at home in various regions of the United States.
Up until this point, our attention has been focused on other variants, like XBB, HV.1, and EG.5. They were the talk of the town, hogging the spotlight with their contagious ways. But it seems like BA.2.86 is ready to kick them off the stage and take center stage itself.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(IS the hero we all need, amirite? They keep a close eye on these things and their latest estimates show that the BA.2.86 variant’s prevalence has tripled since November 11th. Now, I know what you’re thinking: “How reliable are these early projections, anyway?” Well, even the CDC admits there’s some margin for error, especially since there’s been a decrease in lab-based testing. So, take it with a grain of salt, but a rather large grain, nonetheless.
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Now, don’t panic just yet! The World Health Organization has said that so far, this new variant doesn’t seem to make people sicker than before. Phew! They did mention, though, that there has been a “substantial rise” in the number of BA.2.86 cases. But hey, the CDC reassures us that this variant poses a “low” public health risk. So maybe it’s more of a “smirking emoji” risk rather than a “screaming in terror” risk.
But here’s the cherry on top: emergency department visits related to COVID-19 are increasing across the whole nation. Cue the dramatic music. Experts believe that one particular descendant of BA.2.86, called JN.1, might be playing a major role in this surge. JN.1 is like a rebellious teenager who’s breaking free from the BA.2.86 family tree and causing all sorts of chaos.
Still, in the midst of all this chaos, there’s a glimmer of hope. This season’s vaccines are expected to work against BA.2.86 and its tricky descendant JN.1. So, we’ve got that going for us. Fist pump.
For more information on these COVID variant antics, head over to the CDC. Stay safe, stay informed, and keep calm (but not too calm).
