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.
EXCL: Health bosses have launched a £50,000 probe to uncover why NHS staff aren t getting Covid and flu jabs in a project that will cover the North West, West Midlands, and London.
COVID markers continue rise in the US and globally umn.edu - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from umn.edu Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.