A new dangerous strain of the coronavirus has reached Ukraine
Ukraine has recorded its first case of infection with a new subvariant of the COVID-19 strain known as "Cicada."
The discovery was made by specialists at the Public Health Center of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine during routine sequencing of viral samples.
According to the Ministry of Health, this subvariant belongs to the Omicron family. It was first identified globally in late 2024, and since then, the presence of “Cicada” has been officially confirmed in 23 countries.
According to preliminary assessments by the World Health Organization, the new strain does not currently pose an increased epidemic risk.
Experts consider it unlikely that this variant will trigger a large-scale wave of infections that could lead to the imposition of strict quarantine restrictions.
The detection of “Cicada” was made possible by a specialized laboratory test—sequencing. This procedure allows medical professionals to decode the virus’s genetic code in detail and promptly identify dangerous mutations.
“The detection of this subvariant confirms the national public health system’s ability to identify new variants of the virus in a timely manner,” the relevant ministry emphasized.
This demonstrates the high readiness of Ukrainian laboratories to monitor the pandemic situation.
The clinical picture of “Cicada” infection is almost identical to that of previous Omicron subvariants. Patients most commonly experience a runny nose, cough, fever, headache, general weakness, and loss of smell or taste.
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