Professor warns we ‘must be vigilant’ as new Covid variant found in Scotland

A top professor has issued a warning after a new Covid variant has been reported in Scotland. Named ‘Pirola’, the BA.2.86 Covid variant is not yet considered a variant of concern but it has a high number of mutations. Public Health Scotland (PHS) said the first case of this Omicron spin-off was identified through PCR testing from a sample collected on August 16. This comes as England recorded the first case of the new strain in the UK earlier in August in a person with no recent travel history, suggesting a degree of community transmission within the country, according to the UK Health Security Agency. Pirola has already been found in several other countries including Canada, the US, Israel and Denmark. Scientists said there’s no clear information about how rapidly it’s spreading since testing for Covid has been scaled back. Professor issues warning about new Covid variant found in Scotland. (Image: GETTY) Scottish wastewater surveillance revealed the presence of the new strain in another NHS Health Board area, meaning it has been found in at least two different areas of Scotland. However, PHS added that the accuracy of wastewater testing is variable and results should be treated with caution. Pirola concerns some virologists because it has a large number of mutations, and it may be able to evade immunity from the Covid vaccines or recent infections with a different variant. Scientists have established the Omicron subvariant carries 30 more mutations in the spike protein compared to the previous dominant variant.  These mutations could mean BA.2.86 is ‘potentially more transmissible and severe’. (Image: GETTY) These mutations could mean BA.2.86 is ‘potentially more transmissible and severe’, according to Dr Chris Papadopoulos, Principal Lecturer in Public Health at the University of Bedfordshire . The professor therefore urged vigilance and called for the government to take action. He said: ‘We must remain vigilant, conduct genomic sequencing, and continue surveillance to build our understanding further. ‘In the spirit of vigilance, I believe the government should reconsider its decision to scale back wastewater monitoring of Covid .  ‘Wastewater surveillance involves analysing sewage to detect the presence of the virus, providing an early warning system and a cost-effective method of monitoring Covid across large populations.  ‘This approach has enabled countries like the US and Denmark to quickly identify Pirola and other variants, which is something we haven’t been able to do.’ What are the symptoms of Covid Pirola? While there’s currently no ‘specific information’ about whether the symptoms of the Pirola variant differ from other variants, the expert recommended looking out for the following ‘common’ signs: Sore throat Runny or blocked nose Cough (with or without phlegm) Headaches .