Scientists are keeping an eye on the new lineage, named BA.2.86, because it has 36 mutations that distinguish it from the currently-dominant XBB.1.5 variant.
So far there is no evidence that BA.2.86 spreads faster or causes more serious illness than previous versions.
COVID infections and hospitalizations have been rising in the U.S., Europe and Asia, with more cases in recent months attributed to the EG.5 "Eris" subvariant, a descendant of the Omicron lineage that originally emerged in November 2021.
But many countries have drastically reduced testing of patients and their efforts to analyze the genomes of the viruses causing new COVID cases.
Updated COVID booster shots now being developed have been designed to target the Omicron subvariant XBB.1.5.
Persons:
Emily Elconin, Wesley Long, Eric Topol, Topol, Long, Moderna, Eris, Deena Beasley, Nancy Lapid, David Gregorio Our
Organizations:
REUTERS, Moderna Inc, Pfizer, World Health Organization, U.S . Centers for Disease Control, CDC, EG, Omicron, Houston Methodist Hospital, Scripps Research, COVID, U.S, Pfizer Inc, Thomson
Locations:
Waterford , Michigan, U.S, Europe, Asia, United States, Israel, Denmark, La Jolla , California