In the fall, a new wave of COVID-19 will appear in Russia, and will be due, in part, to the participation of a new version of Omicron, called Eris (variant EG.5) – he said. socialbites.ca Genomic Engineering Laboratory in a meeting with MIPT Pavel Volchkov. Previously, the World Health Organization (WHO) had added the Eris strain of the coronavirus to its list of variants under surveillance.
“The new COVID-19 wave will peak in the fall. People who are not infected with Omicron, a variant of which is Eris, will become ill. Children born amid coronavirus waves will also get sick. Its strata in Russia is quite large, at its expense this option may be stuck in the human population until we find a way to protect children from the coronavirus, ”says the virologist.
The incidence will increase, according to Volchkov, but the reason lies not only in a particular strain, but also in the intervals between waves.
Volchkov also emphasized that “Eris” is not fundamentally different from “Omicron” – at least until scientific studies are found to prove the contrary.
With Message Rospotrebnadzor, “Eris” has already entered Russia. First single cases of infection with variant EG.5. In April 2023, Moscow, Moscow Region, St. Petersburg, Magadan and Irkutsk Regions, Krasnodar Territory, Buryatia and Khakassia Republics.
Although only 17 people have been infected with Eris so far, Rospotrebnadzor believes there are risks of complications in the epidemiological situation associated with the spread of COVID-19.
Murashko, former head of the Ministry of Health declaration About the start of preparations for the flu season in Russia.