New Covid-19 Variant, "Deltacron" Discovered by Cyprus
NEWS -- January 8, 2021 A strain of Covid-19 that combines delta and omicron was found in Cyprus, according to Leondios
Kostrikis, professor of biological sciences at the University of Cyprus and head of the Laboratory of Biotechnology and Molecular Virology.
Kostrikis and his team have identified 25 such cases and the statistical analysis shows that the relative frequency of the combined infection is higher among patients hospitalized due to Covid-19 as compared to non-hospitalized patients.
The sequences of the 25 deltacron cases were sent to GISAID, the international database that tracks changes in the virus,
on Jan. 7. The discovery was named "Deltacron" has omicron-like genetic signatures within the delta genomes.
“We will see in the future if this strain is more pathological or more contagious or if it will prevail” against the two dominant strains, delta and omicron, Kostrikis said in an interview with Sigma TV Friday. He believes omicron will also overtake deltacron, he added.
source: Bloomberg news reported Saturday
Wnctimes Marjorie Farrington