Academician Gunzburg explained that omicron is dangerous due to its high infectivity

The Omicron strain of the coronavirus is spreading rapidly, which is why it can put an increased strain on the healthcare system. This was warned by the head of the Gamaleya Center, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Alexander Gintsburg, on the air of “Russia 24”.

According to him, according to the available preliminary data, it is not necessary to say that omicron is more dangerous in terms of pathogenicity. “It’s another matter that it is more contagious, that is, it spreads much better … And this is its danger,” the academician explained. If the number of sick and hospitalized people grows sharply, health care may “choke”.

At the same time, Gunzburg emphasized that there is no need to modify the Sputnik V vaccine yet. And he clarified: until it is clinically proven that those vaccinated with Sputnik are hard to tolerate the Omicron. At the moment, research shows that no modification is necessary. Earlier, the academician added, the vaccine did not have to be changed for the “delta” strain. Among the “severe” patients in intensive care, there were no those who were vaccinated on a full cycle.

We add, the British media reported with reference to research that the risk of hospitalization for infection with “omicron” is much lower – 50-70%, than for infection with “delta”.

Let us remind you that variant B.1.1.529, which was named “omicron”, was discovered at the end of November in South Africa, Botswana, Israel, and has already been identified in a number of European countries, in the United States. Experts believe that it can pose a threat, since it spreads much faster than other strains that scientists have identified during the pandemic, and contains a large number of mutations, including more than 30 in the S-protein.