Overview: WHO concerned about global COVID trends

WHO airs concerns about global COVID trends Meanwhile, several more BA.2.86 sequences were reported, as Moderna notes reassuring lab findings against BA.2.86 for its updated vaccine. CIDRAP

At a briefing on global health issues today, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said there are concerning trends ahead of the Northern Hemisphere winter, including rising deaths in parts of the Middle East and Asia and increased hospitalizations in multiple regions.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, PhD, included the caveat that data are limited, with few countries reporting information. Regarding variants, he said there is currently no dominant one, though EG.5 is on the rise. He said the heavily mutated BA.2.86 variant has been detected in small numbers in only 11 countries, though the WHO continues to monitor developments, especially regarding transmissibility and potential impact.

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