Covid experts' Pirola strain warning – 3 things you can do to protect yourself
With the UK officially a hotspot for the new super-mutated Covid variant - experts have shared the best advice for avoiding it.
The latest 'Pirola' strain was first spotted in August with 54 reported cases in the UK as of September 18, of which 48 were in England. Now public health officials have brought forward an autumn boosters drive to make sure as many vulnerable people are as up to date as possible with their jabs.
Symptoms of the variant - officially titled 2.86 - have so far been listed as a high fever, cough, blocked or runny nose, loss of taste or smell, headaches, muscle aches and fatigue. Doctors on Friday confirmed that tests show far show no evidence the mutation is any more contagious or deadly than other strains.
But moving into the colder months and with schools heading back from the holidays, the number of bugs spreading will head into overdrive. Experts have urged people to start wearing face coverings in indoor public places once again, and covering their mouths when coughing near others.
People with symptoms should stay at home and certainly avoid contact with anyone who may be vulnerable, doctors have reiterated. Anyone who has not been vaccinated is warned to get up to speed to protect themselves and others.
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Dr Hana Patel, NHS GP & Medico-Legal Expert Witness, said there is "some degree of widespread community transmission". The doctor told the Express : "Face coverings help by catching the small droplets we sometimes spread when we talk or cough.
"These can contain coronavirus and land on surfaces and other people. If you have Covid-19, even without any symptoms, and are not wearing a face covering the risk of spreading it to others nearby can be as high as 70 per cent. If you wear a face covering, the risk of spreading it drops significantly."
Dr Renu Bindra, Incident Director at UKHSA said that while Pirola has "a significant number of mutations", the data is still limited to draw conclusions on its impact. The doctor explained: "While BA.2.86 has a significant number of mutations to the viral genome compared to other currently circulating COVID-19 variants, the data so far is too limited to draw firm conclusions about the impact this will have on the transmissibility, severity or immune escape properties of the virus.
"UKHSA scientists are working with international partners to culture the samples and analyse the evidence as it becomes available. However, it is likely to be some time before we have enough data to make a confident assessment. Specialists from UKHSA have been working with Norfolk County Council to offer infection control advice and support following a confirmed outbreak of BA.2.86 in a care home.
"It is clear that there is some degree of widespread community transmission, both in the UK and globally, and we are working to ascertain the full extent of this. In the meantime, it remains vital that all those eligible come forward to receive their autumn vaccine as soon as it is offered to them."
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