THEthe COVID-19 Back to worry. To tow the New wave of contagi is the LP variant 8.1which emerged in recent months and quickly became dominant in different Asian countries. In the city like Singapore, Hong Kong, Bangkok and Beijing, the cases are clearly increasing, with an acceleration that also pushed LEuropean Agency for Medicines (EMA) to recommend an update of vaccines for the next season.
According to experts, the diffusion of the variant is favored by two main factors: the drop in immunity due to the temporal distance from the latest vaccination campaigns, and the less circulation of the virus recorded in recent months. “Years have passed since the last vaccination and this has left room for new infections,” explained the infectiousologist Matteo Bassetti, director of the infectious diseases department of the San Martino hospital in Genoa, at the press agency Adnkronos. “Where little has been vaccinated, as in India, the risk is greater,” he added.
Also in Europe – including Italy – the LP variant 8.1 is starting to make its way. The data of the European Center for the prevention and control of diseases (ECDC) report a recovery of cases, albeit currently contained. But attention remains high, especially in view of the autumn season, when respiratory viruses tend to resume vigor.
Covid 19, variant LP.8.1: Features and diffusion
The LP variant 8.1 is An overlooking of the Overcron family, identified for the first time in July 2024. It stands out for Nine additional mutations in the Spike protein compared to JN.1the mother variant. These mutations could confer a greater ability to evade the immune response to LP.8.1, although its infectivity is lower than Jn.1.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the United States, LP.8.1 currently represents about 70% of Covid-19 cases in the country, while in the United Kingdom about 60% of infections.
The recommendations of the AMA and WHO
Ema, through its emergency task force, has recommended Updating anti-Covid vaccines To include the LP variant 8.1 in view of the 2025/2026 vaccination campaign. This decision was made in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and other international partners, considering the available data, including animal studies.
THE’WHOfor its part, said that the current composition of the vaccine against Covid-19, based on the variants JN.1 or KP.2, is still appropriate for the next winter season. However, An update to the LP variant 8.1 would be equally appropriate. The important thing is to continue offering the Covid-19 vaccination based on the recommendations, without delaying in anticipation of access to vaccines with an updated composition.
Covid 19, variant LP.8.1: implications for public health
Although the variant LP.8.1 has a greater ability to evade the immune response, The current vaccines continue to offer significant protection against symptomatic and serious disease. The WHO has specified that there are currently no data relating to the clinical characteristics of the infection from LP.8.1, but a study published on Lancet Infectious Disease showed that, compared to the mother variant Jn.1, LP.8.1 has less infectivity, but a higher ability to escape the immune response.
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