Experts assessed the danger of "iota"-strain COVID-19

Preliminary data on a new strain of covid-19 "Iota", published earlier in the form of a preprint study by American scientists from New York, speak of its potential danger. This was reported to RBC by a virologist, professor of Moscow State University, DOCTOR of Biological Sciences Alexei Agranovsky.

According to Agranovsky, in terms of infectivity, the iota strain is inferior to the delta strain. “The defining value of the strain is the ability to avoid vaccines. The data from this publication show that "iota" is not neutralized by antibodies to the S-protein in 0-10% of cases. This is not much, ”Agranovsky believes.

He also noted that vaccines work most effectively against all strains of the virus, and preventive measures (masks, social distance, hand washing) should also help fight the epidemic.

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 which the iota strain can more often cause a lethal outcome of the disease. In addition, the scientists concluded that the new strain is transmitted 15-25% faster than other variants of the virus.