Scientists in Cyprus have discovered a new coronavirus strain known as ‘Deltacron,’ which combines the Delta and Omicron types. It is a blend of the two strains as far as we know now.
According to reports, 25 cases have been discovered thus far. 11 of the 25 patients are in the hospital under care.
“There are currently omicron and delta co-infections and we found this strain that is a combination of these two”, Leondios Kostrikis, professor of biological sciences at the University of Cyprus and head of the Laboratory of Biotechnology and Molecular Virology, said in an interview.
The relative frequency of the variation is higher in patients who are already in hospitals due to Covid-19, according to statistical research.
On January 7, the sequences of the 25 deltacron cases were provided to GISAID. GISAID is a worldwide database that keeps track of viral modifications. It is vital to note that no international health authority has yet recognized or designated ‘Deltacron.’
Within the Delta genomes, the newly identified variant claims to show Omicron-like genetic signatures. Experts also say it is not a cause for concern just yet.
Experts have yet to determine whether the strain is more pathological, communicable, or likely to survive.
