Latest advice on new Covid strain Pirola

The coronavirus Pirola strain is a variant from Omicron BA.2, the strain responsible for a surge in Covid cases in 2022.  As of 18 September, data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) confirmed 54 cases of BA.2.8 in the UK – 48 cases in England and six in Scotland. As of yet, no cases have been identified in Wales or Northern Ireland. In England, 10 of the cases were hospitalised, but there have been no recorded deaths. Of the 48 cases in England, 30 were identified as part of a single outbreak in a Norfolk care home .  In a statement, a spokesperson for the UKHSA said: ‘BA.2.86 continues to transmit within the UK, with sporadic cases identified in most regions.’ The coronavirus Pirola strain is a variant from Omicron BA.2 (Image: GETTY)