New Omicron sub-variant Centaurus found in Russia

MOSCOW. July 19 (Interfax) - The new Omicron sub-variant Centaurus has been found in Russia, Russian consumer health watchdog Rospotrebnadzor said, adding that five cases of the new sub-lineage were diagnosed in Moscow in July, and all of these patients have a mild form of the disease.

"Five genome sequences designated as the BA.2.75 (Centaurus) sub-variant of the Omicron strain have been added to the VGARus database. The samples were collected in July, in the city of Moscow. All patients have a mild form of the disease. None of them have been hospitalized," Rospotrebnadzor's press service said on Tuesday.

The Dutch National Institute for Public Health and Environment (RIVM) said on July 13 that the new BA.2.75, Centaurus, sub-lineage of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 was found in the country. This mutation had earlier been detected in India and a number of other countries, including Australia, Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada.