Herd immunity and milder variants have reduced the threat of SARS-CoV-2, but new dangerous strains remain possible, a virologist says.
SIMFEROPOL: The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus infection and its existing subvariants no longer pose a serious threat to humans, with herd immunity having developed worldwide, a virologist and Doctor of Biological Sciences, Vladimir Oberemok, who heads the department of general biology and genetics at V.I. Vernadsky Crimean Federal University, told RIA Novosti.
“The serious danger that existed in 2020 to 2022 has passed. Herd immunity has already developed worldwide; most people have either had the disease or been vaccinated, and therefore already have memory cells against the coronavirus.
“In addition, the variants of the virus that spread more easily – rather than those that are more lethal – are becoming more prevalent. The disease increasingly proceeds in a mild form,” Oberemok said.
At the same time, the virologist did not rule out that new variants of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus with high mortality rates could emerge over time, capable of triggering a new pandemic.
(Bernama-Sputnik/RIA Novosti)
