Every seventh inhabitant of Russia is at risk of losing their sense of smell when infected with coronavirus due to the presence of mutations in the UGT2A1 and UGT2A2 genes. This is reported by Izvestia with reference to the medical genetic center Genotek.

“This means that in people with a similar combination of gene variants, the risk of losing their sense of smell when infected with coronavirus increases by 11%,” said Alexander Rakitko, product director of the company.

According to him, the scientific work of American geneticists became the basis for studying Russians and the risk of losing their sense of smell.

One of the possible hallmark symptoms of the coronavirus is anosmia, the loss of smell, the researchers stressed. However, these complications do not occur in everyone. Most often, in patients with COVID-19, olfactory receptors are restored in 2-4 weeks. However, sometimes rehabilitation can take longer, geneticists noted.

Those who have had a coronavirus infection are also experiencing parosmia - a distorted perception of tastes and smells.

Earlier, virologist Mikhail Shchelkanov suggested that the world would live in a coronavirus pandemic for another three years.

bbabo.Net