A first case of Covid-19 linked to an infection with the BA.2.86 variant was detected in France at the end of August.
- A first case of BA.2.86 infection has been identified in France. It was spotted in the Aube department.
- This new mutation of SARS-CoV-2 is a sub-variant of Omicron. It has been identified in several countries such as the United Kingdom and Denmark.
- Taking into account the data currently available, health authorities believe that the immune status of the world population should make it possible to “maintain a certain protection, in particular against severe forms”.
An increase in C infectionsovid-19 has been observed in France for several weeks, driven by the variant Eris. And it could now be fueled by another mutation spotted for the first time in France at the end of August: THE B.A..2.86.
Variant B.A..2.86 : a first case detected in France
Public Health France indicated in a communicated published on September 1 that a first case of infection with B.A..2.86 was detected in France. The new mutation of the Covid-19also nicknamed Pirola variant, was spotted in the Aube department on August 31, 2023, based on tests carried out on August 21.
THE B.A..2.86 East a sub-variant of Omicron. Observed in several countries this summer, it was classified among the strains under surveillance by the WHO. “It is the subject of particular attention at the international level due to its atypical genetic profile and the significant number of mutations it presents”explains the French health organization.
“As of 08/31/2023 at noon, there were 25 sequences of this sub-lineage in the world, spread across several countries: ten sequences in Denmark, four in the United States, four in Sweden, two in South Africa, two in Portugal, one in the United Kingdom, one in Israel and one in Canada; to these 25 sequencesadds that detected for the first time in France on 08/31/2023 by the CNR Virus of Respiratory Infections from a sample from a city laboratory in the Grand Est region.”
Variant Pirola : acquired immunity should avoid forms severe
Investigations are underway to better understand this new variant “At this stage the emergence of the variant B.A..2.86 East still too much early to be able to evaluate its characteristics and its impact”, recognizes Santé Ppublic France. But the organization is reassuring: “the immune status of the world population is very different from what it was at the emergence of Omicron with a significant proportion of people vaccinated or having been infected by different successive variants, making it possible to maintain a certain protection, in particular against severe forms.
An opinion shared by Etienne Simon-Lorièrehead of the virus evolutionary genomics unit at RNA at the Pasteur Institute, interviewed by The Parisian : “even if areas in the protein Spike have mutated, some of the antibodies will still cling to it”thus limiting infection. “Proven cases do not present atypical symptoms and the vast majority of the world population has acquired a form of immunity against severe forms, through vaccination and/or infection”assured the expert.
Covid-19: barrier gestures and vaccination to slow down new variants
As France faces an increase in Covid-19 infections, the emergence of the variant B.A..2.86 raised additional concerns. In addition to respecting barrier gestures and isolation in the event of a positive test for Covid-19 and/or symptoms, Santé Publique France reminds that “vaccination against Covid-19 with administration of a booster dose for the most vulnerable people remains important to prevent severe forms in the event of active circulation of the virus“.
The joint vaccination campaign against influenza and Covid-19 will be launched on October 17.
