A new COVID-19 outbreak in Ukraine
Infectious disease doctor Olga Golubovska commented for RBC-Ukraine on the situation with coronavirus disease and explained why treatment should not be delayed.
Stratus is not a new strain, but a subvariant of Omicron
Some media outlets refer to Stratus as a new strain, but, according to the expert, this is incorrect.
"Stratus is a recombinant subvariant of the Omicron strain, which arose as a result of genetic material exchange between subvariants LF.7 and LP.8.1.2. This process in the virus is constant. The variant is highly infectious and spreads rapidly," - Golubovska noted.
Is Stratus more dangerous than other subvariants?
According to the doctor, this subvariant does not pose a global threat and is classified as a "variant under monitoring." However, the incidence rate is rapidly increasing.
"By the way, it tests quite well. That is, we get a positive result quite often. Previously, there were situations where a person had obvious clinical signs of coronavirus infection, but the test result was negative. However, even now, a negative result does not exclude the diagnosis," - the specialist explained.
What to do if you get sick?
"People need to be reminded: if there are symptoms, a test should be done. If the result is positive, antiviral therapy is mandatory, which we have and is accessible," - the expert emphasized.
But antiviral drugs should be taken not after three days ("because it wasn't very bad"), but immediately after symptoms appear.
"If you notice symptom progression, do not stay at home - seek medical help," - she added.
Golubovska noted that symptoms of the new SARS-CoV-2 subvariant Stratus include:
- Cough
- Elevated body temperature
- Weakness
- Headache
Should we worry about Stratus?
"Although mortality from Omicron has generally decreased, its subvariants, like litmus paper, reveal and decompensate all the pathology present in a person. Therefore, recovery after illness can be very difficult, and this process can last for months. This is especially true for those who carry the disease 'on their feet'," - the doctor emphasized.
According to her, it is not possible to ignore the disease, even if its course seems mild.
"X-ray changes now often do not correspond to the clinical picture, meaning even with minor symptoms, we observe quite pronounced changes in the lungs," - the expert noted.
What is known about the new COVID-19 outbreak
In Ukraine, particularly in Kyiv and seven regions (Vinnytsia, Dnipropetrovsk, Zhytomyr, Zaporizhzhia, Kyiv, Poltava, Chernihiv), a new subvariant of the coronavirus Stratus has been recorded.
According to acting director of the Public Health Center Oleksiy Danylenko, the COVID-19 situation in Ukraine is controlled, but the number of cases is increasing, similar to last summer.
Stratus is one of the two dominant strains worldwide. It demonstrates increased spread rate but does not cause a more severe course of the disease. The new subvariant has a characteristic symptom - hoarseness of voice. Other signs remain typical: cough, fever, fatigue.
According to the Kyiv City State Administration's Department of Health, the number of hospitalizations with COVID-19 complications increased more than four times in a month: from 15 to 68 patients.
The increase in cases may be related, among other things, to frequent presence of people in enclosed shelters. Experts recommend wearing masks in such places, regularly washing hands, and consulting a doctor at the first symptoms.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified Stratus as a variant "under monitoring" due to its rapid spread worldwide.
