Moscow, Europe Brief News – Scientists have for the first time provided solid evidence of a covid strain that combines Delta and Omicron variants.
But, the scientists do not believe it poses a cause for concern.
While the so-called “Deltacron” variant had been suspected in a number of countries, virologists at L’Institut Pasteur in Paris submitted its full genomic sequence on Tuesday to the international covid database, GISAID, meaning it has been officially confirmed as a variant.
A case of Deltacron has been found in Soissons, northern France, and more are suspected in Denmark and the Netherlands.
However, the scientists said the variant which combines mutations of two variants is ‘one to keep an eye on’
Half of Europe to catch Omicron
The World Health Organization (WHO) has earlier said that half of Europe will catch Omicron.
WHO Regional Director for Europe Hans Kluge said a “west-to-east tidal wave” of Omicron was sweeping across the region. The Delta variant is on top of a surge, he added.
The projection was based on the seven million new cases reported across Europe in the first week of 2022.
The number of infections has more than doubled in a two-week period.
“Today the Omicron variant represents a new west-to-east tidal wave, sweeping across the region on top of the Delta surge that all countries were managing until late 2021,” Dr Kluge told a news conference.
He quoted the Seattle-based Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation as forecasting that “more than 50 percent of the population in the region will test positive for Omicron in the next six to eight weeks”.
The WHO has earlier warned of ‘tsunami’ of COVID cases in the near future. The declaration was due to Omicron spread.
