Experts have urged Brits to stay alert to the new heavily-mutated Pirola Covid variant amid fears it could trigger a fresh wave of infections and overwhelm the NHS.
BA.2.86, nicknamed Pirola, was first detected in Israel and Denmark earlier this month, unsettling a swathe of top scientists who are worried about its catalogue of mutations.
England s annual flu and Covid vaccine drive is being brought forward due to fears surrounding the heavily mutated Pirola variant with officials saying the decision was made partly to protect the NHS.
Dubbed "Pirola" by variant trackers, the strain is different enough from other Omicron to potentially warrant a Greek letter from the WHO, experts say.