New Strain of COVID-19 Being Watched by Health Agencies

 

Photo shows the logo of the World Health Organization at the WHO headquarters in Geneva. (Lian Yi/Xinhua via Getty Images)

Health organizations are monitoring a changed version of the virus that causes COVID-19.

This new strain is called BA.2.86. It has a lot of mutations and is being watched by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The WHO said they need more information about this variant, but its many changes are important. They will keep updating people about it.

The United States' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is also looking at this variant.

Even with this new strain, the CDC says you should follow the same advice to protect yourself from COVID-19.

Many health agencies are keeping an eye on different variants of the virus.

Pfizer, a company that made a COVID-19 shot, said their updated shot can fight the "Eris" subvariant. This was tested on mice.

A supply of Pfizer's vaccine against coronavirus disease is seen at Dekalb Pediatric Center, after it is authorized in Georgia for ages over 12 years, in Decatur, Georgia. (REUTERS/Chris Aluka Berry/File photo)

Other vaccine companies are also working on shots to fight new variants.

One of these new variants, called EG.5 or "Eris," is like another variant called XBB.1.5. EG.5 has caused more than 17% of COVID-19 cases in the U.S.

Experts are watching these new versions of the virus closely.