Background The B.1.526 variant (WHO designation: Iota) is a SARS-CoV-2 variant of interest, as classified by both the US CDC and the WHO. Due to a lack of extensive genomic sequencing and contact tracing data, its key epidemiological properties have not been well characterized.

Methods We utilized nine epidemiological and population datasets collected in New York City (NYC), where B.1.526 emerged, and comprehensive modeling to estimate the changes in transmissibility, immune escape potential, and infection fatality risk (IFR) for B.1.526.

Findings Estimated transmission rate in the neighborhood where B.1.526 was initially detected was consistently higher than other neighborhoods in NYC and further increased during the weeks preceding B.1.526 detection, likely due to its early spread there. Overall, models estimated that B.1.526 had transmissibility about 15-25% higher than previously circulating variants and that it could escape immunity in 0-10% of previously infected persons. In addition, B.1.526 substantially…

Штамм «йота» способен повысить уровень смертности от COVID-19 на 62–82% среди пожилых людей, сообщили ученые. Впервые этот вариант выявили в Нью-Йорке в ноябре 2020-го, с тех пор его обнаружили как минимум в 27 странах