Covid-19: Health expert reveals they are looking out for 'severity' signs in latest Pirola variant

The latest variant of Covid-19 is the Pirola strain, also known as BA.2.86 and UK health experts are concerned that this newest strain is more transmissible than previous ones. As reported by Express, there has been an outbreak in a care home in Norfolk, with 28 reported cases of the Pirola variant.

The Pirola strain is a mutation of the Omicron variant and has a high number of mutations in its spike protein this means that there is a chance that this variant can potentially get past the immune system and become more transmissible.

UK health experts are monitoring the situation

On Friday, September 8, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) explained that there’s a probability that there will be a community transmission of Pirola. However, they also added that it is still too early to fully understand the potential gravity of this new strain.

As reported by Express, this new outbreak is an ‘early indicator’ that the Pirola variant could be ‘sufficiently transmissible’ that it can spread in close-contact settings.

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Health expert issued advice amid new Covid-19 variant

Professor Susan Hopkins, Chief Medical Advisor at the UKHSA spoke to ITV’s Good Morning Britain and talked about symptoms and precautions to take:

The symptoms are unchanged. So far, we can see very few cases yet.

So we will be watching out for severity signals in particular.

She also advises those with children, that if their child is sick to keep them at home to avoid spreading illnesses, but to evaluate depending on their level of sickness:

For children, if they are very unwell, to stay at home from school, but otherwise for mild illnesses, to keep going because school is really important.

Adding for adults:

If you need to go out, then protect, particularly, the vulnerable and those at risk of severe disease. Avoid visiting them if at all possible.

Sources used:

Express: ‘UKHSA professor issues advice on Covid symptoms as Pirola variant continues to spread’