COVID-19 variants identified in the UK – latest updates

COVID-19 variants identified in the UK – latest updates The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has published an initial risk assessment of the SARS-CoV-2 variant BA.2.86. This variant was detected in the UK on Friday 18 August, and has also been identified in Israel, Denmark and the US. It has been designated as V-23AUG-01 for the purpose of UKHSA monitoring.

The newly identified variant has a high number of mutations and is genomically distant from both its likely ancestor, BA.2, and from currently circulating XBB-derived variants. There is currently one confirmed case in the UK in an individual with no recent travel history, which suggests a degree of community transmission within the UK. Identifying the extent of this transmission will require further investigation. UK Health Security Agency

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• 'Real deal' Covid variant is now in Britain: Patient is hospitalised in London with heavily-mutated BA.X strain - and experts think they caught it IN the UK The Daily Mail
• How rife is Covid in YOUR area? Timelapse map shows how cases have DOUBLED in a fortnight as health chiefs confirm 'real deal' variant is now in UK - and may have been spreading silently for weeks The Daily Mail
• New Covid variant causing concern among scientists detected in London The Guardian
• Updated Covid vaccines are nearly ready as alarm grows over new variant’s rapid spread The Independent
• New Covid variant with 'high number of mutations' identified in UK ITV News
• Eris, BA.2.86: Do I need to worry about COVID again? Reuters
• New COVID variant with 'high number of mutations' detected in UK Sky News