In mid-August, the World Health Organisation raised the alarm about a new coronavirus (Omicron) variant that has now been detected
mid-August, the World Health Organisation raised the alarm about a new coronavirus variant that has now been detected in no fewer than nine countries.
As of August 30, the virus strain has been identified in at least four states in the US: New York, Virginia, Ohio, and Michigan., the Pirola variant is a highly mutated variant of the Omicron coronavirus, but now has multiple genetic differences from previous versions of SARS-CoV-2. Its high number of mutations may imply that this new variant can evade the body’s immune responses, which are triggered either by infection or vaccination.
An infectious disease expert, Dr Scott Roberts, quoted in a Yale Medicine bulletin published on Thursday, said, “When Omicron hit in the winter of 2021, there was a huge rise in COVID-19 cases because it was different from the Delta variant, and it evaded immunity from both natural infection and vaccination.
The statement partly read, “The WHO has classified EG.5 as a ‘variant of interest’ and conducted a risk assessment, which found that this new variant poses a low risk at the global level. Scientists have pointed out that BA.2.86’s changes are in regions of its spike protein which are targeted by the body’s potent infection-blocking or neutralising antibodies. For this reason, there is a likely chance that the new variant will be able to escape some of the immune triggered by previous infections and vaccine boosters.
Nigeria Latest News, Nigeria Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Global rice prices hit 15-year high in August - FAOGlobal rice prices have increased to a 15-year high according to reports released in August. The Agriculture Organization (FAO), in a report on Friday,
Read more »
Insecurity: Experts fault defence minister’s call for prayersBadaru made the call on Thursday when he received a delegation from Jigawa State, in Abuja.
Read more »
Minister Blames Health Sector Woes On Poor Funding, Brain DrainCoordinating minister for health and social services, Prof Muhammad Ali Pate, has identified poor funding, brain drain, obsolete equipment as well as lack of
Read more »
Minister laments deplorable state of Nigerian health sectorHe made the remark at the opening ceremony of the 13th Biennial Delegates Meeting and Scientific Conference of Medical and Dental Consultants' Association held in Kano on Thursday.
Read more »
YouTube begins verifying videos by UK doctors over health misinformationYouTube has launched a verification system for UK-based doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals to help Britons dodge medical misinformation online.
Read more »
Pharmacists Seek Value-based Care To Achieve Universal Health CoverageWorried by high costs of health services, the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) has advocated the adoption of Value-based Community
Read more »