New Omicron Variants , Competing Ahead of Expected , Winter Surge.<br />'The Independent' reports that new variants of <br />COVID have continued to spread around the <br />world, leading experts to warn of rising cases.<br />Three new strains of Omicron have <br />emerged: Eris, Pi and Pirola. .<br />According to the Zoe Health Study, <br />the United Kingdom has recorded over <br />93,083 new cases as of September 3.<br />In its latest update, the UK Health Security Agency <br />(UKHSA) said that ICU and hospital admission <br />rates have increased across most age groups.<br />According to virologist Lawrence Young, <br />the latest Omicron variant to emerge this <br />summer is BA.2.86, otherwise known as Pirola.<br />As of August 23, the Centers for Disease <br />Control and Prevention had only detected <br />two cases of Pirola in the U.S.<br />Another Omicron variant, EG.5.1, otherwise <br />known as Eris, was first identified by the <br />World Health Organization (WHO) on August 9.<br />It has become the most prevalent <br />variant circulating in the U.S. and the second <br />most prevalent variant in the UK. .<br />It has become the most prevalent <br />variant circulating in the U.S. and the second <br />most prevalent variant in the UK. .<br />Virologist Professor Lawrence Young <br />warns that Eris has an additional mutation , "which might account for its ability to evade <br />the neutralizing antibody response from <br />previous Omicron infections.".<br />Two other currently circulating variants are XBB.1.16, <br />or Arcturus, which is the most common variant in <br />the UK, and BA.6, or Pi, another Omicron variant.
