Virologists assessed the danger of the Arcturus strain of COVID that appeared in Russia

The new subspecies of the Arcturus CORONAVIRUS (HVV 1.16) is a variant of the omicron strain, despite its high contagiousness, it does not cause a severe course of the disease, therefore its detection in RUSSIA does not cause concern, according to virologists interviewed by RBC.

"Arktur" is not much different from other variants of "omicron", it is distinguished from the "kraken" it displaces by one mutation, said Evgeny Timakov, an infectious disease specialist, pediatrician, chief physician of the Leader-Medicine medical center. He emphasized that most Russians have cross-immunity to subspecies of the omicron strain.

“We should not expect any serious rise in the incidence, much less expect severe cases of treatment. In the meantime, it has not spread widely enough, it’s not a fact that it will spread, so I wouldn’t be especially afraid, ”said the scientific DIRECTOR of the I. I. Mechnikov Research Institute of Vaccines and Serums, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, HEAD of the Department of Microbiology, Virology, Immunology Sechenovsky University Vitaly Zverev.

According to Professor of Moscow State University, DOCTOR of Biological Sciences Alexei Agranovsky, it is impossible to prevent infection with the Arcturus subspecies, but this is not required, since the disease is dangerous only for risk groups (the elderly or people with reduced immunity). The latter can be recommended vaccination.

“The symptoms are the same as for the other strains of this group, and in addition to them, symptoms of conjunctivitis and fever (although not occurring in all cases). Experts don't consider Arcturus a "variant of concern". <...> Arcturus is not shocking epidemiological news," he stressed.

On April 18, Rospotrebnadzor reported the first cases of infection with the Arcturus subtype of coronavirus in Russia. The agency noted that the introduction of anti-epidemic restrictive measures is not required. The next day, this variant was found in three samples from Moscow patients.

The Arcturus subspecies has become widespread in India, Singapore, and cases have also been recorded in the usa , Germany, and CHINA. According to the World HEALTH Organization, the new version has been distributed to 29 countries as of April 13.