Coronavirus Alert: The CDC warns that a new variant is spreading at high speed in the United States

(Health News) – The spread of A alternative Subordinate Coronavirus disease Very mutated triplicate New government data showed that during the past two weeks.

barely 1 in 10 new coronavirus infections are driven by the BA.2.86 variantThe US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported Monday that the variant is spreading Fastest in the Northeast: Just over 13% of cases in the New York and New Jersey area are attributable to the BA.2.86 variant.

Scientists first warned of the highly mutated strain in August, but it has since spread to several areas of the United States. To date, the vast majority of new Covid cases have been attributed to the XBB variant and several of its strains, including the HV.1 and EG.5 variants. But this may change soon.

CDC estimates have wide margins of error about how widespread BA.2.86 will be, but the most recent estimate is The data showed three times what it was on November 11.

However, “it is important to note that initial predictions tend to be less reliable because they rely on examining growth trends from a smaller number of sequences, especially as the volume of laboratory testing for SARS-CoV-2 has declined significantly over time.” The agency indicated in an update on the alternative.

So far, preliminary data on the variant suggests so It does not lead to more serious disease than the previous variantsBut the international agency still notes a recent and “significant” increase in BA.2.86 cases, the World Health Organization said in a recent risk assessment.

The CDC also noted this Variant BA.2.86 poses a “low” public health risk.

But Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data released Monday showed that emergency department visits related to COVID-19 have begun to increase nationwide.

Experts say a specific descendant of BA.2.86 may be behind the spike. In recent weeks, scientists have been studying A A sharp rise in the descendant of BA.2.86 called JN.1, which has become the fastest growing variant worldwide.

“Currently, JN.1 is the most common version of BA.2.86 in the United States. CDC projects on BA.2.86 and its subsidiaries such as JN.1 will continue to scale as the genomic sequence of SARS-CoV-2 “said CDC spokeswoman Yasmin. Reid told CBS News.

The good news? The agency said this season’s vaccines are expected to work against JN.1, as they do against BA.2.86.

more information. Visit the CDC for more information about coronavirus variants.

Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, November 27, 2023

*Robin Foster, HealthDay correspondent © The New York Times 2023