It turned out, where the coronavirus has penetrated into Russia. It’s not China

The first study on genomic epidemiology COVID-19 in Russia showed that the virus entered the country not from China, but mainly from Europe, reported RIA Novosti in the press service of Skoltech, who conducted the analysis in collaboration with other scientific organizations.

“By comparing genetic data on viruses circulating on the territory of the Russian Federation, data on the movement of the population, the researchers concluded that viral diversity obtained through at least 67 independent importation of the virus in different cities of Russia in late February — early March. According to the findings, unlike other countries, the virus was brought to Russia not from China, but mainly from Europe”, — stated in the results of the study.

It is noted that the work was carried out by researchers from the Center for life Sciences SKOLKOVO, Higher school of Economics, influenza research Institute named after A. A. Smorodintsev and Institute of information transmission problems named after A. A. Kharkevich under the direction of Professor George Skoltech Bazykina.

“Many early cases of importation of the virus not borne outbreaks in Russia. However, at the moment in Russia circulates at least Deval different variants of the virus, which are not observed in other countries. Special attention scholars have paid to the outbreak in one of the hospitals of Saint-Petersburg research Institute. Harm, ill, where more than 400 people. It was found that the virus spread through the city, having some impact on the epidemiological situation in St. Petersburg”, — said SKOLKOVO tech.

In April, the head of the Department of neuro with the bone Oncology research Institute Vreden in St. Petersburg Dmitry Ptashnikov reported that all staff of his Department and he himself became infected with the coronavirus

“Genomic epidemiology not only shows how the virus appeared in Russia, but will allow you to understand what will happen next. For example, Russia will open its borders and begin to be new cases. Whether they are a result of the continuation of the epidemic in Russia or new importation? Comparing the genomes of new and old viruses, we can find out” — are words in the message Bazykina.

A study was made on the basis of genetic analysis of 211 samples of the virus obtained from patients in the territory of the Russian Federation in the period from March 11 to April 23, 2020. The results confirmed the assumption that the coronavirus came to Russia from Europe in late February – early March of this year. Preprint with the results of the study are published in the database medRxiv.

Skoltech recalled that at the moment Russia is the fourth country in the world in the number of people infected with coronavirus, but the epidemic in Russia started later than in many neighboring countries.