What is Deltacron?
Deltacron is a variant of Covid that contains elements of the Delta and Omicron variants - in other words, it contains genes from both variants, making it known as a recombinant virus.
"Recombinants arise when more than one variant infects and reproduces in the same person, in the same cells," Prof. Laqrence Young, a virologist at the University of Warwick. "Deltacron is a product of the Delta and Omicron variants circulating in the same population."
Gisaid, a global community of scientists who published information on the virus, posted that the first strong evidence for this variant was published by the Pasteur Institute in France.
Where was this variant found?
Gisaid says the variant has been identified in several regions of France and appears to have been circulating since the beginning of the year. Viruses with a similar profile have also been identified in Denmark and the Netherlands.
There have also been reports of Deltacron detection in the US and around 30 cases have been detected in the UK.
Should we worry?
Experts point out that recombinant variants are not uncommon and that Deltacron is not the first and will not be the last to happen. At present, there is little data as to the severity of the variant and how well the vaccines against it protect. Currently the variant has not shown a worrying growth rate.
Source: Guardian
