Head of the Influenza Institute assesses reports of the danger of "iota"-strain COVID

The results of a study by American scientists do not indicate a higher lethality of the new Iota coronavirus strain compared to other strains. This was announced to journalists by the director of the Research Institute of Influenza named after. A.A. Smorodintsev of the Russian Ministry of Health Dmitry Lioznov, RBC correspondent reports.

“It has been noted that people over 65 years of age may more often have adverse outcomes of the disease. The conclusions presented in the publication are preliminary and should be verified in additional studies,” Lioznov said, noting that so far 28,223 cases of “iota” infection have been registered in the world and this version of the virus does not yet pose a serious threat.

Lioznov also pointed out that the “iota” strain is still spreading mainly in the United States , namely in the state of New York. He compared the situation with the history of the AT1 strain (Russian strain). This variant was detected in northwestern Russia, but then it was supplanted by other variants of the virus.

A team of scientists from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and the New York School of Public Health. Mailman at Columbia University conducted a study, according to the results of which the iota strain can significantly increase the death rate from infection. The study was conducted among the age group of 45 years. The lethal outcome most often occurred in persons aged 65 to 74 years.