Highly mutated COVID variant BA.2.86 detected globally but severity and vaccine efficacy still unclear

The BA.2.86 COVID variant has been detected in several countries including the US, Denmark, Israel, and South Africa.
BA.2.86 has a significant number of mutations compared to previous variants like Omicron.
It is still unknown if BA.2.86 can evade immunity from vaccines or prior infection.
So far most cases of BA.2.86 have shown mild symptoms, with no major increase in hospitalizations.
More research is needed to fully assess BA.2.86's transmissibility, severity, and ability to evade immunity.