What is the most important thing to keep track of when it comes to this variant?
According to Dr. Parikh, “it’s most important to monitor how transmissible [BA 2.86] is, how severe it is, and if our current treatments and vaccines work.”
Dr. Mostafa said how well the new variants escape existing antibody protection should also be studied and watched closely.
What does this stage of the virus mutation tell us about where we are in the pandemic?
The history of the coronavirus over the past few years shows that variants with many changes evolve and can spread very quickly, Dr. Mostafa said. “Now that the virus is endemic, it is essential to monitor, update vaccinations if necessary, diagnose, treat, and implement infection control measures when necessary.”
With the limited data we have so far, experts seem to agree that while the variant’s makeup raises some red flags, it is too soon to jump to any conclusions about how easy it is to catch it and the ways it may change how the virus impacts those who contract it.
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.