ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

Home → Science

Scientists have detected a “Deltacron” variant. Should you be worried?

It's the worst of both worlds.

Mihai AndreibyMihai Andrei
March 15, 2022
in Science
A A
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterSubmit to Reddit

A new coronavirus mutation that contains the backbone of the Delta variant but the spike-part of the Omicron variant has been discovered in several countries. The variant, which could have the severity of the Delta variant and could spread like the Omicron variant, was to be expected, researchers say, but is concerning nonetheless.

What is Deltacron

The Delta variant proved to be substantially more severe than the Alpha variant, which itself was more severe than the original strains observed in Wuhan. When the extremely contagious Omicron variant emerged, we were fortunate that it did not carry the same severity as Delta — since, if it was similarly severe, it would have undoubtedly caused much more trouble (which is not to say that it’s not problematic enough as it is).

Unfortunately, although many more people are vaccinated than a year or even a few months ago, the virus is still spreading like wildfire, and the more the virus circulates, the higher the risk of mutation.

In this case, the hybrid variant was formed through a process called recombination: when a patient is infected simultaneously with two different strains of the same virus, and the strains end up exchanging genetic material and creating new types of viral structures. The discovery of a virus formed thusly is described in a yet-not-peer-reviewed paper published in medRxiv.

We have known that recombinant events can occur, in humans or animals, with multiple circulating variants of #SARSCoV2. need to wait for experiments to determine the properties of this virus. Importance of sequencing, analytics & rapid data sharing as we deal with this pandemic https://t.co/2qmu6WS118

— Soumya Swaminathan (@doctorsoumya) March 8, 2022

Where has Deltacron been detected

The first reports of a “Deltacron variant” came in January, but researchers cautioned at the time that the new variant was unlikely to exist and was more likely a result of lab contamination. Now, the new variant seems to actually exist.

Gisaid, a global community of scientists that shares virus information, posted that this is “the first solid evidence for this variant”, shared by the Pasteur Institute in France. Already, the variant seems to have been detected in several countries.

“This recombinant virus identified in several regions of France has been circulating since early January 2022 and genomes with a similar profile have been also identified in Denmark and The Netherlands. Further investigations are needed to determine if these recombinants derive from a single common ancestor or could result from multiple similar recombination events,” the Gisaid post reads.

RelatedPosts

What is temperature and what does it truly measure?
Why serotonin makes you happy (or very, very sad)
Scientists 3D print models of impact craters on Moon and Mars
The most unhealthy, calorie ridden, sodium rich restaurant meals in America

There have also been reports of Deltacron in the US, and about 30 cases have been detected in the UK, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

Should you be worried

Something like this was likely to happen, researchers say. This is likely neither the first nor the last recombinant version of this virus. Still, this doesn’t mean that all is good now that it has happened.

“We have known that recombinant events can occur, in humans or animals, with multiple circulating variants of SARS-CoV-2,” Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, the chief scientist at the World Health Organization (WHO) wrote in a tweet

Maria van Kerkhove, the COVID-19 technical lead for the WHO, said this mutation was “to be expected, especially with intense circulation of Omicron & Delta”. She added that her team was “tracking and discussing” the variant.

So far, only a handful of cases have been detected, and we don’t know exactly how contagious, severe, or resistant to vaccines. It is very likely that booster vaccines are still very effective against it, though this has not been confirmed; still, it’s very likely that vaccination offers at least some protection from the new variant. Thankfully, we’re much more prepared for something like this than we were a year or even a few months ago.

Also, it seems rather unlikely that this variant can become dominant given that another Omicron subvariant seems to be around 30% more contagious than the original Omicron.

Mutations like this are likely to continue emerging as long as the virus is circulating freely in society. Currently, 63.6% of the world population has received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, although the rate is still very low in low-income countries, where only 14% of people have received at least one dose. Earlier this week, Pfizer’s CEO announced that we will likely need a fourth dose to stay safe in the front of the new variants.

ShareTweetShare
Mihai Andrei

Mihai Andrei

Dr. Andrei Mihai is a geophysicist and founder of ZME Science. He has a Ph.D. in geophysics and archaeology and has completed courses from prestigious universities (with programs ranging from climate and astronomy to chemistry and geology). He is passionate about making research more accessible to everyone and communicating news and features to a broad audience.

Related Posts

Culture & Society

What’s Seasonal Body Image Dissatisfaction and How Not to Fall into Its Trap

byAlexandra Gerea
1 day ago
Mind & Brain

Why a 20-Minute Nap Could Be Key to Unlocking ‘Eureka!’ Moments Like Salvador Dalí

byTibi Puiu
1 day ago
Anthropology

The world’s oldest boomerang is even older than we thought, but it’s not Australian

byMihai Andrei
1 day ago
Future

Swarms of tiny robots could go up your nose, melt the mucus and clean your sinuses

byMihai Andrei
1 day ago

Recent news

What’s Seasonal Body Image Dissatisfaction and How Not to Fall into Its Trap

June 28, 2025

Why a 20-Minute Nap Could Be Key to Unlocking ‘Eureka!’ Moments Like Salvador Dalí

June 28, 2025

The world’s oldest boomerang is even older than we thought, but it’s not Australian

June 27, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Editorial Policy
  • Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
  • How we review products
  • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Science News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Space
  • Future
  • Features
    • Natural Sciences
    • Physics
      • Matter and Energy
      • Quantum Mechanics
      • Thermodynamics
    • Chemistry
      • Periodic Table
      • Applied Chemistry
      • Materials
      • Physical Chemistry
    • Biology
      • Anatomy
      • Biochemistry
      • Ecology
      • Genetics
      • Microbiology
      • Plants and Fungi
    • Geology and Paleontology
      • Planet Earth
      • Earth Dynamics
      • Rocks and Minerals
      • Volcanoes
      • Dinosaurs
      • Fossils
    • Animals
      • Mammals
      • Birds
      • Fish
      • Amphibians
      • Reptiles
      • Invertebrates
      • Pets
      • Conservation
      • Animal facts
    • Climate and Weather
      • Climate change
      • Weather and atmosphere
    • Health
      • Drugs
      • Diseases and Conditions
      • Human Body
      • Mind and Brain
      • Food and Nutrition
      • Wellness
    • History and Humanities
      • Anthropology
      • Archaeology
      • History
      • Economics
      • People
      • Sociology
    • Space & Astronomy
      • The Solar System
      • Sun
      • The Moon
      • Planets
      • Asteroids, meteors & comets
      • Astronomy
      • Astrophysics
      • Cosmology
      • Exoplanets & Alien Life
      • Spaceflight and Exploration
    • Technology
      • Computer Science & IT
      • Engineering
      • Inventions
      • Sustainability
      • Renewable Energy
      • Green Living
    • Culture
    • Resources
  • Videos
  • Reviews
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Editorial policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.