The World Health Organization (WHO) has included in the list for further monitoring the variant of coronavirus AT.1, which was detected in Russia in January this year. According to the organization's website, the Russian strain has been tracked since June 9.
There are 12 COVID-19 variants on the list for further study. These options, including the Russian one, are not designated by the letter of the Greek alphabet. This labeling is given to strains that WHO enters on the lists of interest and concern.
The strains of interest are those with which infections are being recorded more and more often in new regions, if there is data on the ability of their mutations to affect the properties of the virus. The group includes “eta” (UK and Nigeria), “iota” (USA), “kappa” (India) and “lambda” (Peru). Mutations that have increased the ability of the coronavirus to spread from person to person, changed the symptoms, and made it more resistant to vaccines are considered to be of concern. These are the strains: “alpha” (UK), “beta” (South Africa), “gamma” (Brazil) and “delta” (India).
In June, the director of the Gamaleya Center, Alexander Gintsburg, announced that there are original variants of coronavirus mutations in Russia. According to him, their properties and differences from other strains are currently being studied. He also stated that due to the Indian and other new strains, it would not be necessary to change the composition of the Sputnik V vaccine.
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