More than 40 coronavirus mutations are circulating this season, but none of them can trigger a new pandemic, Health Minister Viktor Liashko told Ukrinform.
“We are studying ‘Stratus’ and ‘Nimbus.’ They have already been detected in Ukraine thanks to the nationwide surveillance system and sequencing that was introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic. Today, we are part of a global monitoring network. As for whether these strains have specific features — coronavirus, like other viruses, continues to mutate, and over 40 mutations are circulating this season — we are not seeing anything unusual. Global surveillance systems also show no mutation capable of causing another pandemic,” he said.
Liashko said that mutations might slightly alter clinical symptoms.
“For example, in 2020 we saw a loss of smell. Today, we are seeing hoarseness of voice, which is quite characteristic of one of the currently circulating strains (‘Stratus’),” he said.
At the same time, the minister said that the situation in Ukraine remains under control. While cases are rising, hospital bed occupancy in infectious disease wards remains at last year’s level. Epidemic monitoring is ongoing to track developments.
“So far, we are not seeing any excessive upward trend,” Liashko said.
As reported, 81 cases of the Stratus coronavirus subvariant and two cases of Nimbus — both new Omicron mutations — have been confirmed in Ukraine.
