Reminder: BA.2.86 has been reported less that 2 dozen times. The summer "wave" is not being caused by it.

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Emory’s Dr. del Rio discusses concerns over a new, unique COVID variant
This variant, BA.2.86, could dodge a person’s immunity and be more infectious and possibly cause more severe illness

https://www.ajc.com/news/health-news/emorys-dr-del-rio-discusses-concerns-over-a-new-unique-covid-variant/5PZIFDPAQNCOXFNPRNDVRJP3GI/

Only 11 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus variant BA.2.86 have been reported around the world — but the highly mutated virus has generated intense monitoring by scientists and public health experts.

This variant appears vastly different from its predecessors. Most widely circulating omicron variants feature a small handful of mutations that make them slightly different from the last. But the BA.2.86 features at least 30 mutations on its spike protein that separate it from other omicron strains — potentially giving the virus greater infectivity by being able to dodge a person’s existing immunity from vaccines and previous infections.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said this latest variant doesn’t now appear to make people sicker than earlier iterations, and that antiviral treatments such as Paxlovid should still be effective, according to a risk assessment published by the CDC. COVID tests should also still detect it.

More at link.