The mutated Covid variant Pirola is contributing to a spike in cases across Scotland and the rest of the UK.
As the colder months edge closer, the BA.2.86 variant is sparking concerns among health experts. The worry comes due to the strain having 34 mutations, meaning it may have the ability to evade the protection provided by vaccination.
Pirola has been detected in 15 countries across the world, according to the Covid variant tracker GISAID.
There are also concerns over Eris Covid, with cases identified in Scotland. Both variants are being monitored by the World Health Organisation. Scotland has so far confirmed five cases of the new variant, with worries it will spread throughout the autumn and winter months, putting more pressure on an already strained NHS.
What are the Covid case numbers in Scotland and the rest of the UK?
According to The Zoe Health Study, 1,285,247 people in the UK were predicted to have symptomatic Covid on September 11. The data also states that there were over 100,000 new cases of the virus recorded on September 10.
In Scotland, the seven day average number of new Covid cases recorded per day was 217 in the week ending September 10.
In the seven days ending on September 9, a total of 1,615 cases of Covid were recorded in Scotland, according to the latest UK Government figures. This figure represents 29.5 per cent per 100,000 population, a rise from 20.09 per 100,000 of the Scottish population at the end of August.
However, this case number does not reflect the total number of cases across the country due to lack of testing at home and in the community. Lateral flow tests are no longer free in Scotland.
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The number of hospitalisations in the week ending September 10 in Scotland was 251, according to Public Health Scotland.
There has also been an increase in the virus levels detected in water, with Public Health Scotland stating that Covid traces in wastewater has “increased sharply” in recent weeks.
What are the symptoms of Pirola?
The variant is not known to cause any additional symptoms or cause more severe illness. However, there is still a lot to learn about the strain, with scientists working to better understand the virus variant.
The key symptoms to look out for are:
- Sore throat
- Cough (with or without phlegm)
- Headaches
- Runny or blocked nose
What do the Pirola Covid mutations mean?
Pirola Covid is an Omicron sub-variant. The strain has 34 mutations, resulting in concern from health experts.
This is because these mutations can allow for the virus to break the protection provided by vaccination as well as levels of immunity provided by a previous infection of Covid.
Experts are working to better understand the variant, with the World Health Organisation closely monitoring the strain and its spread.
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