The new version of the Covid-19 does not cause concern among the Ministry of Health and Rospotrebnadzor
Russian medical services will not introduce additional measures due to the identification of a new coronavirus strain Nb.1.8.1 in the country. Previously, he provoked an outbreak of incidence in Asia. However, both WHO experts and Russian doctors are sure that the symptoms of the disease caused by this strain do not differ from other variants of the virus and most often proceed in a mild form. Meanwhile, the Federal Operational Headquarters to combat the new coronavirus infection stopped the publication of weekly reports on the incidence, explaining that the situation was stabilized and Covid went into the category of seasonal diseases.
In Russia, it is not required to introduce additional measures due to the new coronavirus strain NB.1.8.1, the chief freelance specialist of the Russian Ministry of Health in infectious diseases said Vladimir Chulanov. He added that the symptoms of the disease caused by this version are no different from other circulating SARS-COV-2 options. On the eve of May 27, Rospotrebnadzor announced the identification of four cases of the disease with a new strain in the country.
The head of the department, Anna Popova, noted that the disease proceeds in the same way as an ordinary Covid, and test systems « already reveal infection with this genow-vector. »
The new version of coronavirus was first discovered in January 2025 in China. Then it was recorded in different countries of Asia, India and the USA. In Hong Kong, 30 deaths caused by this strain were registered for a month, mainly among people over 65 years old. Because of this, the local authorities returned the mask regime and recommended that they revaccinated. On May 23, the World Health Organization (WHO) recognized NB.1.8.1 as “under surveillance”. This means that it causes less concerns than the options “representing interest” or “causing concern”.
In countries where a new strain has been detected, there is an increase in hospitalization, but the WHO has no data, that the disease is more severe than usual. Nevertheless, she noted that NB.1.8.1 « quickly spreads compared to other circulating options, » because in the future he « may require priority attention and observation. »
Most of the coronavirus strains that are currently distributed come from the Pyrola option-one of the “great-grandchildren” of Omicron, says the infectious disease specialist, chief physician of the Klinic and Diagnostic Laboratory of Invitro Andrei Pozdnyakov. He emphasizes that new strains in terms of danger are comparable to the previous generations of Omicron and are generally characterized by low pathogenicity. In his opinion, mass testing is not required now: the predominant strains cause mainly light forms of the disease that are treated on an outpatient basis and symptomatically. “However, in most people, population immunity has decreased and antibodies have fallen. And the new substamines are more and better bypassing the immune response that has formed after a meeting with the previous variants of the virus, ”Mr. Pozdnyakov warns.“ Vaccination is now practically not carried out, so many people no longer have vaccine antibodies, which also contributes to an increase in incidence. ”
The founder and supervisor of the Grand Clinic clinic network Olga Shuppo agrees that the new coronavirus strain is not particularly dangerous. The likelihood of its fast spread is now low, she believes: many have gone out of town, on vacation. “But people with reduced immunity, chronic diseases, the elderly need to be careful. High -quality sleep, good nutrition, reduction in stress, moderate physical activity – the best ways to transfer your immunity to a new qualitative level. After all, strong immunity remains the most important protection against coronavirus, ”says Mrs. Shuppo.
It should be noted that on May 21, the Federal Operational Headquarters to Control against the New Coronaviral Infection ceased to publish weekly reports on the incidence of Covid-19. This decision is explained by the fact that the epidemiological situation has stabilized and « the virus has moved to the category of seasonal diseases. » Nevertheless, Rospotrebnadzor will continue the monitoring « in operational mode. »
