In a pandemic bulletin released late on Thursday, the WHO categorized this new variant as one under surveillance "due to the large number (more than 30) of spike gene mutations it carries."
Currently, the variant has only been identified in Israel, Denmark, and the United States.
The US Centers for Disease Control confirmed that it is also closely observing the variant in a message on the social platform X (formerly known as Twitter).
According to the WHO, there are only four known sequences of this variant.
The WHO stated, "The potential impact of the BA.2.86 mutations are presently unknown and undergoing careful assessment."
The WHO is currently monitoring over 10 variants and their corresponding lineages.
Many countries that had established surveillance systems for the virus have dismantled operations, as they deemed the virus less severe, justifying the reduced expense. The WHO has criticized this approach, urging stronger monitoring instead.
In the reporting period from July 17 to August 13, a WHO statement reported over 1.4 million new cases of COVID-19 and more than 2,300 deaths. This caseload marks a 63 percent increase from the previous 28-day period, while deaths have decreased by 56 percent.
As of August 13, the global tally includes over 769 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 and more than 6.9 million deaths. However, the actual toll is likely higher, given the likelihood of many undetected cases.
