Scientists in an interview with “Lenta.ru” told why in Jordan, Israel's closest neighbor, in which there is a jump in morbidity and mortality among the vaccinated population, nothing like this happens. Professor of the Department of Virology of the Faculty of Biology of Moscow State University and Doctor of Biological Sciences Alexei Agranovsky and molecular biologist and head of the laboratory of biotechnology and virology of the Faculty of Natural Sciences Sergei Netesov agreed: the reason is the absence or suppression of data. Also, the immunologist-allergist Vladimir Bolibok noted the low mortality rate in Jordan, emphasizing the paucity of information about the quarantine measures carried out in the state.
Previously, scientists explained the increase in the incidence of coronavirus in Israel, where most of the population is vaccinated, by the spread of the “delta” strain and a decrease in the effectiveness of existing COVID-19 vaccines. “Currently, in many countries, including Israel, the delta strain dominates, capable of infecting children and adolescents who have not been sick before and who have not been vaccinated,” Agranovsky said at the time.
In Jordan, they may well “draw” numbers
Sergei Netesov noted that the reason for the increase in morbidity and mortality in Jordan, following neighboring Israel, may lie in the suppression or even distortion of statistical data on COVID-19.
“There are several hypotheses that are now being tested. The only thing that distinguishes Israel from Jordan is that numbers in the latter country may well be “drawing”. The fact is that this is a country with a very authoritarian regime, and the numbers there can simply hide, as in other similar countries, we are well aware of this, ”the molecular biologist shared.
He noted that the situation is being investigated. Netesov emphasized that in many countries there is now an increase in the incidence rate, which is associated with the activity of the “delta” strain. However, the scientist named mortality as the most interesting parameter for studying.
The same is the opinion of the doctor immunologist-allergist Vladimir Bolibok. According to the doctor, there is no information on what quarantine measures are being carried out in the country, but the mortality rate is very small. “By the way, their mortality rate is 1.3 percent, which is 2 times lower than in Russia (2.66 percent),” he added.
According to Alexei Agranovsky, professor of the Department of Virology, Faculty of Biology, Moscow State University, one should be skeptical about the data on morbidity and mortality from Jordan. He compared their numbers with those that come from Afghanistan and Côte d'Ivoire and found a relationship. In all three cases, the virologist believes, the exact data on the morbidity and mortality from coronavirus are not known. “In Israel, intensive testing is being carried out for COVID-19, statistics and data are being published, but not in Jordan,” Agranovsky explained.
In May 2020, Jordan shared the secret of success in the fight against coronavirus. Local MP Ibrahim Baddur stressed that the country has introduced preventive measures, closing the country even before the outbreak of COVID-19 inside the state. In addition, all arrivals were immediately sent to mandatory quarantine for a period of two weeks. In parallel, the authorities isolated a small number of those infected.
