A new variant is not a new thing, of course, but BA.2.86, known also as Pirola, seems to be causing some concern in the UK and elsewhere.
It seems a long time ago that I compiled page after page on this blog about COVID-19. Those pages are still there, all but one are now "archived" and have that word in their title. The Current resources about COVID-19 is the exception, updated in June 2023.
I wondered if a few resources on this new variant would be useful. In case I am right, here are some. I don't know how long this one will be useful for, but will try to keep it updated.
A PubMed search for BA.2.86 finds a few. Adding Pirola finds authors called Pirola, and as a consequence a lot of irrelevant things, so for now I have made a search that searches the two terms, plus a term used in the UKHSA risk assessment (V-23AUG-1) in titles and abstracts:
PubMed search for COVID-19 BA.2.86 (Pirola) variant
This still finds some things discussing papers by Pirola and at least one about PIROLA, plasminogen activator (r-tPA) orolingual angioedema, a complication of stroke treatment. At the moment anyway, searching BA286 finds one other thing on a different infectious agent.
UK Health Security Agency
Variants update - latest information on variants identified in the UK, the one from 8th September 2023 (at the top of the page at the moment) is about BA.2.86.
Variant surveillance and assessment technical briefing 53 (9th September 2023) - one section is links to published information.
Risk assessment for this variant, 1st September 2023
Other sources
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention risk assessment summary for COVID-19 sublineage BA.2.86, August 2023
Yale Medicine news item, 31st August 2023
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