Virologist Butenko: the group of coronaviruses has the property of fast mutation
The group of coronaviruses has the property of fast mutation, for this reason it is difficult to make any predictions for the end of the pandemic, said the virologist, professor at the Gamaleya Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology Alexander Butenko. His commentary is quoted by Ekho Moskvy in its Telegram channel.
He noted that mutations are the main mechanism of evolution, they cannot be controlled. “Yes, these mutations are detected, but it is impossible to stop the process of new ones,” Butenko explained.
On the eve of The coronavirus vaccines existing in Russia will protect a person from a severe course of the disease when infected with the omicron strain.
A new COVID-19 strain under code B.1.1.529 was detected in South Africa on November 11, isolated cases were also recorded in Japan , Canada, Spain, Sweden, Egypt, Austria and other countries. The World Health Organization recognized this option as dangerous and warned that the risk of infection with a new strain in those who have had coronavirus may be higher.
Earlier, Alexei Agranovsky, professor of the Department of Virology, Faculty of Biology, Moscow State University, admitted that a strain of coronavirus may appear in Russia, which will have the ability to move away from existing vaccines. In his opinion, a new variant could arise in any country where there are many cases of COVID-19 infection. He stressed that it is very difficult to predict the properties of such a strain.