The Omicron+Delta recombinant virus is described as follows: Is this a COVID variety that hasn’t been seen before? Experts estimate how dangerous it can be.
The recombinant virus is a coronavirus hybrid that has genes from both the Delta and Omicron types.
Delta + Omicron recombinant virus, once thought to be a lab error a few months ago, has now been proven to be a reality with substantial evidence. The World Health Organization also issued a warning about the situation, stating that ‘this was expected’ because both Delta and Omicron are circulating widely. Because there have only been a few occurrences so far, it is too early to say whether it can cause serious illnesses.
It’s a hybrid coronavirus made up of genes from both the Delta and Omicron types. The study’s principal author, Philippe Colson of IHU Mediterranee Infection in Marseille, France, explained that genetic recombinations of coronaviruses have been known to occur when two variations infect the same host cells.
“Throughout the pandemic, two or more SARS-CoV-2 variants circulated at the same time and in the same geographic area… As a result, recombination between these two kinds became possible.”
What is the rate of spread?
So far, 17 cases of the recombinant virus have been reported in the United States and Europe.
Three patients in France were infected with a SARS-CoV-2 variant that combines the spike protein of an Omicron variant with the “body” of a Delta variant, according to his team.
According to an unpublished paper by genetics research firm Helix that was submitted to medRxiv and obtained by Reuters, two more unrelated Deltacron infections have been discovered in the United States.
On viral research message boards, other teams have reported an additional 12 Deltacron instances in Europe since January, all with an Omicron spike and a Delta body.
Is it possible for the recombinant virus to create a serious infection?
It’s too early to predict whether Deltacron infections will be very contagious or cause serious sickness because there have been so few confirmed cases. In a similar vein, the WHO reported that no changes in the severity or transmissibility of the disease have been discovered at this time, but that research is ongoing. At this time, testing is still critical.
Colson, on the other hand, claims to have developed a PCR test that “can quickly screen positive samples for the existence of this virus.”