Rospotrebnadzor registers no dangerous mutation of AH1N1-2009 pandemic flu - chief
MOSCOW. Jan 27 (Interfax) - There is no dangerous mutation of the AH1N1-2009 pandemic influenza, head of Russia's consumer rights watchdog (Rospotrebnadzor) and chief sanitary officer Anna Popova has said.
"The results of antigen testing have shown that this virus matches the vaccine strain. To date, there have been no new finds that would confirm that the virus has mutated," she said in an interview with Interfax on Wednesday.
"Scientists both in Russia, and in other countries, believe the virus has not altered, has not changed its properties, and has not become more aggressive. These are the conclusions made by Russian scientists both from the health ministry's influenza research institute and from Rospotrebnadzor's Vector scientific center for virology and biotechnology," Popova said.
According to Rospotrebnadzor, the AH1N1-2009 is the dominating flu virus in Russia. It is also called the 'swine flu'.
A day earlier, Popova told Interfax that weekly epidemic thresholds for influenza and common cold had been exceeded in 47 of Russia's constituent regions. "Most often, it affects children of pre-school and school age," she said.
The disease forced the closure of over 800 schools and over 600 kindergartens across Russia, Popova said.
The incidence rate will start to decline in two or three weeks, she said.