The epidemiologist estimated the probability of a new pandemic due to the Stratus gene variant

The new strain of coronavirus "Stratus", despite its high contagiousness, will not lead to a new pandemic. This was announced on September 15 by Gennady Onishchenko, Deputy of the Russian Academy of Education (RAO), Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), epidemiologist.

"Stratus" is a mutation of two COVID—19 sub-strains, which has become highly contagious. Contagiousness is when it infects more actively. I can say for sure that Stratus will not cause a pandemic. But the incidence will increase, as will the incidence of influenza," he told TASS.

Onishchenko clarified that the pandemic had ended, but the virus continued to spread among people. Therefore, as he emphasized, it is necessary to preserve one's health by observing preventive measures.

The epidemiologist said that the disease is transmitted individually — mostly easily, manifesting itself in fever — but there are also severe forms that affect people with weakened immune systems, as well as the elderly and children, whose bodies do not always cope with such a load.

"If a patient with fever and cough says that he has been vaccinated, it can be assumed that this is not the flu, but the coronavirus," Onishchenko summed up.

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On August 23, the head of Rospotrebnadzor, Anna Popova, reported 384 cases of infection with the new Stratus coronavirus variant in the Russian Federation, and also added that the number is growing. She clarified that the fact that the new strain is more contagious is due to the need for it to change and acquire new properties.

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