Ambulance near City Clinical Hospital No. 40 in KommunarkaMOSCOW, Jan 17 Coronavirus strain «omicron» spreads better in the mucous membrane of the upper respiratory tract, an immunologist, candidate of medical sciences Nikolai Kryuchkov told Ura.ru. Referring to the data of Japanese scientists, the doctor said that this variant is less pathogenic. «Omicron» multiplies better in the cells of the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract , and much worse in the lungs compared to the delta,» Kryuchkov explained. Virologist, chief researcher at the Gamaleya Center, Doctor of Medical Sciences Anatoly Altshtein agreed with his colleague's assessment. The scientist called this feature of «omicron» one of the most important from the point of view of the pathogenicity of the strain. Inflammation of the lungs, severe lung pathology with this virus occurs less frequently than with Delta and others, ”he added. The B.1.1.529 strain, also known as omicron, was found in Botswana and South Africa at the end of November. It carries dozens of mutations in the S-protein required by the pathogen to infect cells. According to the researchers, many changes in the genome indicate a high transmissibility of this variant and resistance to protective antibodies of those who have been ill and vaccinated. Experts believe that those who have already been ill and vaccinated can become infected, and symptoms range from fatigue to headache and body aches. «Omicron» identified in more than a hundred countries, including Russia. The head of Rospotrebnadzor Anna Popova previously noted that the infectiousness of the new strain is three to seven times higher than the previous ones. The incubation period has been reduced to two to five days.
