A new wave of coronavirus in Russia could be caused by the FLiRT strain, said Olga Zykova, a candidate of medical sciences. Experts do not expect a critical increase in the incidence rate.
FLiRT may become more contagious and will be able to overcome the immune system better than previous variants, the expert added.
Earlier, Rospotrebnadzor noted a gradual increase in COVID-19 cases over the past four weeks.
— The spread is due to the emergence of a new variant, — said virologist Anatoly Altshteyn.
Perhaps FLiRT is not the only variant that is actively spreading.
According to immunologist Nikolai Kryuchkov, various variants of the omicron strain are currently found in Russia, FLiRT is one of them. It may displace the others, becoming a relatively dominant subvariant.
Immunologist Vladimir Bolibok named the main symptoms of FLiRT:
- temperature,
- fever,
- cough,
- nasal congestion,
- runny nose.
Sometimes there are signs of the very first variant of COVID-19 – loss of taste and smell.
General symptoms of COVID-19:
- Fever, chills.
- Cough (dry or productive).
- Shortness of breath, difficulty breathing.
- Fatigue.
- Muscle pain.
- Headache.
- Loss of taste or smell.
- Sore throat.
- Runny nose.
- Nausea or vomiting.
- Diarrhea.
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Important! Information is provided for reference purposes. Ask a specialist about contraindications and side effects and do not self-medicate under any circumstances. At the first signs of illness, consult a doctor.