The United Kingdom has witnessed an increase in COVID-19 cases over the past few months, and experts attribute this surge to a new strain known as Pirola BA.2.86. This variant originates from Omicron BA.2 and was initially identified in Denmark in July of this year. It rapidly became the predominant strain in the UK.
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According to the latest government data, England reported 12,123 new COVID-19 cases in the week leading up to October 14.
Great Yarmouth has been identified as the current COVID-19 hotspot in both England and Wales, with a rate of 54.4 new cases per 100,000 people. Chesterfield follows with a rate of 49.6 per 100,000 people, and Scarborough with 45.1 cases per 100,000. The Isle of Wight recorded 44.3 cases, and Fylde had 43.1 cases per 100,000 people.
In the United States, a new sub-variant of Omicron, HV.1, has become the dominant strain, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Professor Schaffner, an expert in infectious diseases at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, warned that this latest mutation of COVID-19 is highly contagious. He expressed concern about the potential for another surge in hospitalizations in the US, stating that these “Omicron progeny” strains are generally very transmissible
By KATRINA TURRILL
