Health

Highly mutated COVID variant found in a number of countries

Published

3 years ago

August 27, 2023

A highly mutated COVID variant called BA.2.86 has now been detected in Switzerland and South Africa in addition to Israel, Denmark, the U.S. and the U.K., according to a leading World Health Organization official.

The Omicron offshoot carries more than 35 mutations in key portions of the virus compared with XBB.1.5, the dominant variant through most of 2023 – a number roughly on par with the Omicron variant that caused record infections compared to its predecessor.

It was first spotted in Denmark on July 24 after the virus infecting a patient at risk of becoming severely ill was sequenced. It has since been detected in other symptomatic patients, in routine airport screening, and in wastewater samples in a handful of countries.

A dozen scientists around the world said while it was important to monitor BA.2.86, it was unlikely to cause a devastating wave of severe disease and death given immune defenses built up worldwide from vaccination and prior infection.

“It’s still low numbers,” said Maria Van Kerkhove, COVID-19 technical lead at the WHO.

That the known cases are not linked suggests it is already circulating more widely, particularly given reduced surveillance worldwide, she said.

Scientists are testing how well updated COVID-19 vaccines will work against BA.2.86. Kerkhove noted that vaccines have been better at preventing severe illness and death than re-infection.

“We are in a very different phase (of the pandemic) than if this popped up in the first year,” said Marion Koopmans, a Dutch virologist who advises the WHO.

Dr. Nirav Shah, principal deputy director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said the agency and others spotted the new variant last week, held meetings with scientists throughout the weekend, and issued a risk assessment on Wednesday. There have been nine such cases detected as of Aug. 23 and the variant was also found in wastewater in Switzerland.

It appears that current tests and medications remain effective against BA.2.86, although the variant may be more capable of causing infection in vaccinated people and those who have had COVID previously, the assessment said. There is no evidence yet that it is causing more severe illness.

Still, the potential risk must be taken seriously, experts said, and surveillance must continue, if not at levels undertaken at the pandemic’s peak.

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Health

German medical team launches free surgical mission at Bamiyan provincial hospital

The mission is funded by volunteer doctors and partner organisations, with essential medicines and medical equipment also brought into the country.

Published

9 hours ago

November 10, 2026

Ariana News

A nine-member medical team from Germany has begun a two-week medical and surgical mission at Bamiyan Provincial Hospital, offering free specialised treatment to patients in need.

According to the Ministry of Public Health, the team arrived in Afghanistan in coordination with the ministry and in partnership with Aga Khan Health Services (AKHS).

During the mission, the specialists will provide diagnostic and surgical services, including plastic surgery, burn treatment, correction of congenital deformities, war-related injuries and other complex medical conditions.

The team is expected to examine around 200 patients, with between 100 and 150 selected for surgical procedures.

In addition to treating patients, the German specialists will conduct theoretical and practical training sessions for Afghan doctors, surgeons and medical students to strengthen local medical expertise.

The ministry said the mission is funded by volunteer doctors and partner organisations, with essential medicines and medical equipment also brought into the country.

The initiative aims to improve access to free specialised healthcare, enhance the skills of Afghan medical professionals and strengthen surgical services in Afghanistan.

Health

Afghanistan to launch nationwide polio vaccination campaign

UNICEF said that 12.7 million children in Afghanistan have been vaccinated against polio through ongoing immunization campaigns.

Published

2 weeks ago

October 30, 2026

Ariana News

Afghanistan is set to launch a new nationwide polio vaccination campaign on Monday, November 2, as health authorities continue efforts to eradicate the disease, following the vaccination of 12.7 million children across the country.

Afghanistan’s Polio-Free Initiative announced that the campaign will begin nationwide on Monday, while vaccination activities in the southern zone will start a day later, on Tuesday, November 3.

Meanwhile, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said that 12.7 million children in Afghanistan have been vaccinated against polio through ongoing immunization campaigns.

The UN agency noted that despite progress in vaccination coverage, efforts to completely eliminate polio in Afghanistan are continuing.

Polio is a highly infectious viral disease that mainly affects children under the age of five and can cause permanent paralysis.

Health organizations have urged families to cooperate with vaccination teams and ensure that all eligible children receive the required vaccine doses to protect them against the disease.

Health

Afghanistan urges polio vaccination as cases reach 42

World Polio Day is observed annually on October 24 to raise awareness and strengthen global efforts to eliminate the disease.

Published

2 weeks ago

October 24, 2026

Ariana News

Afghanistan Free Polio has urged parents and caregivers to vaccinate their children against polio, warning of the continued need for vaccination efforts as the country marks World Polio Day on October 24.

In a message issued on Saturday, the organization called on families to ensure their children receive polio vaccines, stressing that every child has the right to grow up free from the disease.

The organization also emphasized the role of families and communities in preventing the spread of the virus and achieving a polio-free Afghanistan.

According to a previous report by the World Health Organization (WHO), six new polio cases had been recorded in Afghanistan, bringing the total number of cases reported since the beginning of 2026 to 42.

Afghanistan and Pakistan remain the only countries where polio has not been eradicated.

World Polio Day is observed annually on October 24 to raise awareness and strengthen global efforts to eliminate the disease.

Health authorities and public health organizations continue to stress that vaccination and community participation are essential to protecting children and preventing further transmission of the virus.