Ukraine has confirmed cases of two new, globally dominant coronavirus subvariants — "Nimbus" and "Stratus." They are spreading faster than their predecessors and pose a risk to people with weakened immune systems. This was reported by Ministry of Health.
New subvariants of the globally dominant Omicron strain have been detected in Ukraine. So far, 38 cases of the Stratus subvariant and one case of the Nimbus subvariant have been confirmed.
According to the WHO, they spread faster and can cause severe illness in people with weakened immune systems, although they are generally no more dangerous than previous variants.
What is known
"Nimbus" was first discovered in the world in early 2025, its characteristic symptom is a sharp sore throat.
"Stratus" has been known since January 2025, and is characterized by hoarseness in patients. The rest of the symptoms coincide with other variants of COVID-19.
The Ministry of Health reminds that vaccination, in particular with omicron-specific drugs, reduces the risk of complications. Revaccination is recommended every 6–12 months for people from risk groups, including medical workers, military personnel, and the elderly.
The most vulnerable groups also include:
- adults and children who have weakened immunity or concomitant or severe chronic diseases;
- pregnant women;
- people over 60 years old;
- Adults and children at risk have a high chance of severe illness and death from coronavirus infection,
- representatives of professional risk groups (for example, doctors, teachers, military personnel, etc.).
