It feels like a new strain is found every week. And unfortunately, this week isn’t any different because of a new COVID-19 strain named ‘Deltacron.’ The new strain combines the Delta and Omicron variants. As stated in a previous article, there are numerous COVID-19 strains, but only a few will rear their ugly heads.
What We Know About Deltacron
The new strain was discovered in the Middle East by a team of researchers at the University of Cyprus. They identified 25 cases of the new variant. Leondiios Kostrikis, a biological sciences professor, described deltacron as “omicron-like genetic signatures within its delta genomes.” “There are currently omicron and delta co-infections, and we found this strain that is a combination of these two,” Kostrikis told Sigma TV.
Kostrikis and his team reported the new cases to the GISAID, an international database that monitors the changes in COVID-19. Data revealed that the frequency of Deltacron is higher in COVID-19 patients hospitalized due to the virus. In addition, Kostrikis believes the new variant will surpass the Omicron variant. “We will see in the future if this strain is more pathological or more contagious or if it will prevail [over delta and omicron],” Kostrikis said.
Health officials still recommend that vaccines and boosters are the best protection against coronavirus.
