The new version of the PJ.2.1 corona virus, which was detected in Canada and is spreading in the United States and Europe, may soon enter Russia or may already be circulating in the country, and will not be recognized, Izvestia writes. Scientists emphasize that a large number of mutations in itself does not indicate an increased danger of the virus. According to the head of the Center for Personalized Medicine at the Kazan Federal University, Albert Rizvanov, new variants of the corona virus can spread between countries within a few days. However, even if PJ.2.1 has already been introduced into Russia, this does not guarantee its further mass distribution. The version was first discovered in May 2026. It involves multiple changes in the spike protein, which helps the virus enter human cells. Its ability to bind to the ACE2 receptor and evade the immune response is being investigated. At the same time, according to Rizvanov, there is still no reason to consider PJ.2.1 fundamentally more dangerous than other versions in circulation. The scientific director of the Gamalia Center, Alexander Gintsburg, noted the need to test the effectiveness of the Sputnik V vaccine against the new version. According to him, there is a need for laboratory experiments on the antibodies produced after vaccination to evaluate the activity that neutralizes the virus. Infectious disease doctor Andrey Pozdnikov sees the improvement of diagnosis as a priority. He recommended using a PCR test, as rapid tests may be less able to detect a virus with a different antigenic structure. At the same time, it will be possible to definitively assess the prevalence and characteristics of the new variant based on the results of genetic monitoring. On October 23, Rospotrabendzor stated that the XFG version of the corona virus, which received the unofficial name "Layer", is not a fundamentally new strain and has been known to experts since January 2025. He is now under the supervision of the health authorities.

The new version of the PJ.2.1 corona virus, which was detected in Canada and is spreading in the United States and Europe, may soon enter Russia or may already be circulating in the country, and will not be recognized, Izvestia writes. Scientists emphasize that a large number of mutations in itself does not indicate an increased danger of the virus. According to the head of the Center for Personalized Medicine at the Kazan Federal University, Albert Rizvanov, new variants of the corona virus can spread between countries within a few days. However, even if PJ.2.1 has already been introduced into Russia, this does not guarantee its further mass distribution. The version was first discovered in May 2026. It involves multiple changes in the spike protein, which helps the virus enter human cells. Its ability to bind to the ACE2 receptor and evade the immune response is being investigated. At the same time, according to Rizvanov, there is still no reason to consider PJ.2.1 fundamentally more dangerous than other versions in circulation. The scientific director of the Gamalia Center, Alexander Gintsburg, noted the need to test the effectiveness of the Sputnik V vaccine against the new version. According to him, there is a need for laboratory experiments on the antibodies produced after vaccination to evaluate the activity that neutralizes the virus. Infectious disease doctor Andrey Pozdnikov sees the improvement of diagnosis as a priority. He recommended using a PCR test, as rapid tests may be less able to detect a virus with a different antigenic structure. At the same time, it will be possible to definitively assess the prevalence and characteristics of the new variant based on the results of genetic monitoring. On October 23, Rospotrabendzor stated that the XFG version of the corona virus, which received the unofficial name "Layer", is not a fundamentally new strain and has been known to experts since January 2025. He is now under the supervision of the health authorities.