Popova explained the emergence of new strains of coronavirus in South Africa

In South Africa, special conditions are emerging for the formation of new strains of CORONAVIRUS, since a significant part of the country's population is infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Anna Popova, HEAD of Rospotrebnadzor, said at a round table "On the development of the federal state sanitary and epidemiological control system" in the Federation Council. The event was broadcast by the RUSSIA 24 TV channel.

“South Africa has a young population, which, unfortunately, is 20% affected by the human immunodeficiency virus, in such an environment there are special conditions for the formation of new strains of coronavirus,” Popova said.

In 2020, the number of people infected with HIV in South Africa amounted to 7.8 million people, follows from the data of the World HEALTH Organization. This is more than 13% of the total population.

Popova added that three of all known strains of coronavirus came to Russia from South Africa. The head of Rospotrebnadzor said that Russian scientists had begun work in the republic. They need to get the information they need to deal with the situation "on the distant approaches," she said.

Cases of infection with a new strain of coronavirus "omicron" in November were detected in South Africa and Botswana. By mid-December, the mutation had been identified in 63 countries, the WHO said.