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A new coronavirus sub-variant has public health experts in the United States feeling "uneasy".

Unofficially called "Pirola", the new variant is a highly mutated version of Omicron, which triggered a surge in cases around the world in late 2021 and early 2022.

Dr Scott Roberts is Associate Medical Director of Infection Prevention at Yale School of Medicine. He told Newsday: 鈥淭his has been found in multiple US states, multiple countries without any clear relation with the cases so this really suggests that there鈥檚 some sort of undetected community spread and we really don鈥檛 have a good idea right now how much is out there since our surveillance systems have been substantially reduced鈥�Covid will come back this winter鈥�it鈥檚 important for everybody on an individual level to evaluate their risk tolerance鈥�are you vulnerable?鈥�

Photo shows: File photo dated 08/01/22 of a person simulating taking a Covid-19 lateral flow test. Credit: PA