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DOUBLE TROUBLE  New ‘Deltacron’ Covid variant found in Cyprus ‘that combines the Delta and Omicron strains of the virus’


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DOUBLE TROUBLE 

New ‘Deltacron’ Covid variant found in Cyprus ‘that combines the Delta and Omicron strains of the virus’

 
  • 11:52 ET, Jan 9 2022    Updated: 13:07 ET, Jan 9 2022
  • A NEW strain of the Covid virus that combines the Delta and Omicron variants has been found, scientists have claimed.

    The discovery was made by a research team led by Leondios Kostrikis, professor of biological sciences at the University of Cyprus.

  • A test being carried out on in Cyprus, where the new variant was found

  • A test being carried out on in Cyprus, where the new variant was found

 

 

The team have identified 25 such cases and data shows the relative frequency of the combined infection is higher among patients hospitalised due to Covid, Bloomberg reports.

The variant was called Deltacron due to the identification of omicron-like genetic signatures within the delta genomes, Kostrikis explained.

“There are currently omicron and delta co-infections and we found this strain that is a combination of these two,” Kostrikis said in an interview with Sigma TV Friday.

Kostrikis, the head of the university’s Laboratory of Biotechnology and Molecular Virology said “we will see in the future if this strain is more pathological or more contagious or if it will prevail”.

 

But his personal view is that this strain will also be displaced by the highly contagious omicron variant.

A string of hugely positive studies show Omicron IS milder than other strains, with the first official UK report revealing the risk of hospitalisation is 50 to 70 per cent lower than with Delta.

Covid booster jabs protect against Omicron and offer the best chance to get through the pandemic, health officials have repeatedly said.

The Sun's Jabs Army campaign is helping get the vital extra vaccines in Brits' arms to ward off the need for any new restrictions.

 

The Cypriot researchers have now sent their findings this week to GISAID, an international database that tracks viruses.

The discovery of the new variant comes as omicron continues its rapid spread across the globe, causing a surge in Covid cases.

Back in December, a top vaccine boss warned there is a very real risk of getting a "dual infection" from both Omicron and Delta.

Dr Paul Burton, chief medical officer for Moderna, said: "In the near future these two viruses are going to coexists."

 

He made the warning as he spoke to the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee.

ac-table-corona-virus-variant-greek-names-JAN09-1.jpg

“Omicron is going to infect people with a very strong background of Delta.

"I think Omicron poses a real threat - the doubling time at three days is far faster than we've seen.

"People can harbor both viruses, and that could be possible here. It certainly could be [much worse].

 

"It give an opportunity for the two viruses could share genes and swap genes over."

It's not clear if this would make any infection worse but could certainly cause potential opportunities for each variant to develop further, Dr Burton warned.

Although it is rare, this has happened before in the pandemic.

A 90-year-old woman in Belgium caught both Alpha and Beta variants at the same time.

 

She had not been vaccinated and doctors suspected she had contracted the dual viruses from two different people, before she died.

Covid variants have previously been referred to by their country of origin, whether it's the Indian variant, the Kent strain or the South African variant.

But some variants have now been renamed with experts referring to them by their Greek names.

 

link  :  https://www.the-sun.com/news/4426580/deltacron-covid-variant-found-combines-delta-omicron/

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New coronavirus variant 'Deltacron' emerges in Cyprus; experts say 'not something to be worried about'

In total, 10 of the mutations from Omicron were found in the 25 samples taken in Cyprus. Eleven of the samples came from people who were hospitalized due to the virus.

Edited by: India TV News Desk     New DelhiPublished on: January 09, 2022 14:47 IST

deltacron variant

New coronavirus variant 'Deltacron' emerges in Cyprus

 

 

A new coronavirus variant Deltacron has emerged in Cyprus which has a similar genetic background to the Delta variant, as well as some of the mutations from Omicron and experts say that it is not something to be worried about at the moment, a media report said.

In total, 10 of the mutations from Omicron were found in the 25 samples taken in Cyprus. Eleven of the samples came from people who were hospitalized due to the virus, while 14 came from the general population, reported Jerusalem Post citing Cyprus Mail.

Dr. Leondios Kostrikis, the head of the laboratory of biotechnology and molecular virology at the University of Cyprus, said that the frequency of the mutation among hospitalized patients was higher and could point to a correlation between the new variant and hospitalizations.

Kostrikis also emphasized that the variant has a similar genetic background to the Delta variant, as well as some of the mutations from Omicron.

The new variant was not something to worry about at the moment, said Cyprus's Health Minister Michalis Hadjipandelas on Saturday.

The minister also expressed pride in discovering the new variant.

Hadjipandelas said the groundbreaking research and findings of Dr. Kostrikis' team make us proud of our scientists. 

The minister also underlined that this research puts Cyprus on the international map when it comes to health matters, according to Jerusalem Post.

So far, the scientific name of the new variant has not been announced. 

link  :  https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/world/deltacron-covid19-variant-coronavirus-cyprus-2022-01-09-753526

 
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10 hours ago, 3 bucks new rv rate said:

It certainly could be [much worse].

Ah YES, BOHICA!!  here comes another variant. IT WILL NEVER END folks. NEVER!!! They won't let it. Now get back in your fetal position in the corner with one thumb up your butt and one in your mouth and when  Fauci yells switch, well you'll know what to do!!!

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Deltacron: a new variant of COVID-19 or a lab contamination mishap?

Health experts are skeptical of the existence of a reported delta and omicron combined variant

By Amy McGorry |

 

Deltacron, the reported new variant of COVID-19 said to combine both delta and omicron variants, has sparked a reaction of skepticism from world health experts. 

Scientists have expressed their doubts about its existence to various media platforms, saying that deltacron is likely the result of a lab contamination error. However, on Monday, the scientist behind the discovery defended his findings. A Cyprus researcher discovered deltacron, according to a report in Bloomberg News Saturday.

According to the report, Leondios Kostrikis, who is a biological sciences professor at the University of Cyprus, discovered a genetic background of the delta variant along with some mutations of omicron. The media report stated that Kostrikis and his team claim to have found 25 cases and sent the findings to GISAID, an international database that tracks changes in the virus.

Kostrikis told the Cyprus Sigma TV network last week, "We will see in the future if this strain is more pathological or more contagious," but he told the media outlet that the dominant strain will be omicron, according to multiple reports.

Nurse Ray Akindele processes COVID-19 rapid antigen tests at a testing site in Long Beach , Calif., Thursday, Jan. 6, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Nurse Ray Akindele processes COVID-19 rapid antigen tests at a testing site in Long Beach , Calif., Thursday, Jan. 6, 2022.

 

 

Dr. Tom Peacock, a virologist at the Imperial College in London, tweeted that the anomaly appears to be "quite clearly contamination" and said that it does not meet the criteria for a new variant.

 

Another World Health Organization COVID-19 expert, Dr. Krutika Kuppalli, also wrote on her Twitter account, "This is likely sequencing artifact (lab contamination of Omicron fragments in a Delta specimen)".

Amidst the backlash, Kostrikis defended his findings with an emailed statement Sunday to the Bloomberg media outlet.

Nurse Mary Ezzat prepares to administer a Pfizer COVID-19 booster shot to Jessica M., Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021, at UCI Medical Center in Orange, California.

Nurse Mary Ezzat prepares to administer a Pfizer COVID-19 booster shot to Jessica M., Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021, at UCI Medical Center in Orange, California.

 

 

Kostrikis told the media outlet that the contamination hypothesis should be ruled out because the deltacron infection rate was higher among hospitalized patients with COVID-19 than among non-hospitalized patients, according to the report.

The researcher in Cyprus said that the cases he identified "indicate an evolutionary pressure to an ancestral strain to acquire these mutations and not a result of a single recombination event," according to the report.

 

Kostrikis also said in the media report that the samples were processed in multiple sequencing procedures in more than one country. According to his statement in the report, at least one other sequence from Israel was deposited in a global database that exhibited deltacron genetic characteristics.

Puseletso Lesofi prepares to sequence COVID-19 omicron samples at the Ndlovu Research Center in Elandsdoorn, South Africa Wednesday Dec. 8, 2021. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay/File)

Puseletso Lesofi prepares to sequence COVID-19 omicron samples at the Ndlovu Research Center in Elandsdoorn, South Africa Wednesday Dec. 8, 2021.

 

 

"These findings refute the undocumented statements that deltacron is a result of a technical error," Kostrikis said in the media report.

Meanwhile, in the U.S., emergency department physician Dr. Fred Davis told Fox News, "The reports out of Cyprus are the first we are hearing of such a variant and will continue to be followed." Davis, who is the associate chair of emergency medicine at Northwell Health on Long Island in New York, did tell Fox News that vaccines are helping with the fight against COVID-19 and its variants.

 

While emergency departments remain vigilant for COVID-19 variant cases, infectious disease expert Dr. Aaron E. Glatt, who is the chair of the department of medicine, and chief of infectious diseases at Mount Sinai South Nassau on Long Island, New York, told Fox News, "Variant strains of Covid-19 are always something that needs to be carefully observed and evaluated." 

"At this time, there is simply insufficient information available for anyone to make a reasonable assessment as to what this particular strain represents," Glatt, who is also a spokesperson for the Society of Infectious Diseases of America, told Fox News.

 

link  :  https://www.foxnews.com/health/deltacron-a-new-variant-of-covid-19-or-a-lab-contamination-mishap

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Deltacron: New COVID variant or lab mistake?

A researcher in Cyprus claims to have found a new coronavirus variant that combines characteristics of delta and omicron. Other researchers have their doubts. But the Cypriot scientist has doubled down on his discovery.

A medical technology student wearing protective gear looks through a microscope in ManilaEven if you've become somewhat numb to the constant onslaught of COVID-19 news, this might have caught your attention over the weekend: A University of Cyprus-based researcher said he had discovered a new strain of the coronavirus that combines characteristics of the delta and omicron variants.

Leonidos Kostrikis and his team have identified 25 cases of what the professor of biological sciences and head of the Laboratory of Biotechnology and Molecular Virology is calling "deltacron."

Omicron is highly contagious and has become the dominant variant of SARS-CoV-2 in many countries, including the UK and the US. Delta was the dominant variant worldwide over the summer. Infected patients had a significantly higher risk of hospitalization than those with the alpha variant of the virus. Deltacron, according to Kostrikis, has omicronlike genetic signatures within the delta genome.

"We will see in the future if this strain is more pathological or more contagious or if it will prevail" against delta and omicron, Kostrikis told the Cypriot broadcaster Sigma TV on Friday.

The emergence of a variant with the potential ability to spread just as fast as omicron or lead to more severe cases caused concern when it was first brought up. But experts have since called the veracity of Kostrikis's findings into question. 

Pushback after claim of contamination

"The Cypriot 'Deltacron' sequences reported by several large media outlets look to be quite clearly contamination," Thomas Peacock, a research associate at Imperial College London's Barclay Laboratory, which focuses on coronavirus research, wrote on Twitter Saturday. In another tweet, he added that "this is not really related to 'quality of the lab' or anything similar - this literally happens to every sequencing lab occasionally!"

After the pushback, Kostrikis defended his findings to US financial wire Bloomberg News on Sunday. The cases identified "indicate an evolutionary pressure to an ancestral strain to acquire [the] mutations" that led him to believe a combination of delta and omicron had occurred, he said in an email statement. He added that this combination was not the result of a singular event — like, for example, the contamination of samples in a lab.

Kostrikis said the samples he analyzed were processed in multiple genetic sequencing procedures across several countries.

Deltacron 'almost certainly not' a true combination of two variants

So-called recombinant forms of viruses, as deltacron would be, are a known phenomenon. They can arise when there are several variants of a virus circulating at the same time, which is currently happening with SARS-CoV-2.

But experts have pointed out that the discovered omicronlike mutations in the delta genome all lie in one section of the genetic sequence ― a section that is known to be affected by difficulties in certain sequencing procedures.

Jeffrey Barrett, director of the COVID-19 Genomics Initiative at the UK-based Wellcome Sanger Institute, points to research his institute has done on the subject, which leads him to believe that the purported deltacron variant "is almost certainly not a biological recombinant of the delta and omicron lineages."   

So can we just ignore the Cyprus findings, breathe a sigh of relief and move on? It's a little early for that. Timo Wolf, a doctor and the head of the isolation unit for highly pathogenic diseases at University Hospital Frankfurt, told DW that he is optimistic but staying cautious for the moment.

"I don't think there is a strong indicator that this will cause a huge problem," Wolf said.

Wolf acknowledged that global data such as Kostrikis' still needs to be reviewed thoroughly. "To be definitely sure," he said, "I think we'll have to wait another few weeks."  

link  :  https://www.dw.com/en/deltacron-new-covid-variant-or-lab-mistake/a-60381928

 

 

 

A medical technology student wearing protective gear looks through a microscope in ManilaA medical technology student wearing protective gear looks through a microscope in Manila

 

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Experts cast doubts over reported ‘deltacron’ variant, say likely due to lab contamination

PUBLISHED MON, JAN 10 20226:56 AM ESTUPDATED MON, JAN 10 20229:02 AM EST
KEY POINTS
  • Global experts are casting doubts over reports of a new possible Covid strain appearing to combine both the delta and omicron variants and dubbed “deltacron.”
  • Reports of the potential fresh variant, found in Cyprus, appeared at the weekend.
  • Experts have said it’s more likely to be the result of a lab processing error.
  • Covid lab technicians in India on Friday Jan. 7, 2022.
  • Covid lab technicians in India on Friday Jan. 7, 2022.

 

Global health experts are casting doubts over reports of a new possible Covid-19 mutation that appeared to be a combination of both the delta and omicron variants, dubbed as “deltacron,” saying it’s more likely that the “strain” is the result of a lab processing error.

At the weekend it was reported that a researcher in Cyprus had discovered the potential new variant. Bloomberg News said Saturday that Leondios Kostrikis, professor of biological sciences at the University of Cyprus, had called the strain “deltacron,” because of its omicron-like genetic signatures within the delta genomes.

 

Kostrikis and his team said they had found 25 cases of the mutation, with the report adding that at the time it was too early to tell whether there were more cases of the apparent new strain or what impact it could have. Bloomberg reported that the findings had been sent to Gisaid, an international database that tracks changes in the virus, on Jan. 7.

Deltacron ‘not real’

Some experts have since cast doubt over the findings, with one World Health Organization official tweeting Sunday that “deltacron,” which was trending on the social media platform on the weekend, is “not real” and “is likely due to sequencing artifact,” a variation introduced by a nonbiological process.

WHO Covid expert Dr. Krutika Kuppalli said on Twitter that, in this case, there was likely to have been a “lab contamination of Omicron fragments in a Delta specimen.”

In another tweet, she noted wryly, “Let’s not merge of names of infectious diseases and leave it to celebrity couples”

Other scientists have agreed that the findings could be the result of a lab error, with virologist Dr. Tom Peacock from Imperial College London also tweeting that “the Cypriot ‘Deltacron’ sequences reported by several large media outlets look to be quite clearly contamination.”

 

In another tweet, he noted that “quite a few of us have had a look at the sequences and come to the same conclusion it doesn’t look like a real recombinant,” referring to a possible rearrangement of genetic material.

Fatima Tokhmafshan, a geneticist at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre in Montreal, agreed, tweeting that “this is NOT a recombinant” but “rather lab contamination b/c [because] looking at recent GISAID submission from Cyprus the clustering & mutational profile indicate NO mutation consensus.”

Another high-profile scientist, Dr. Boghuma Kabisen Titanji, an infectious diseases expert at Emory University in Atlanta, advised a cautionary approach, tweeting Sunday that “On the #deltacron story, just because I have been asked about it many times in the last 24h, please interpret with caution. The information currently available is pointing to contamination of a sample as opposed to true recombination of #delta and #omicron variants.”

However, she also noted that a possible mixing of the genetic material belonging to the delta and omicron variants is a possibility as both strains continue to circulate, and is a concerning proposition.

“Recombination can occur in coronaviruses. The enzyme that replicates their genome has a tendency to slip-off the RNA strand it is copying and then rejoining where it left off. With #delta and #omicron both in circulation, dual infection with both variants increases this concern,” she tweeted.

For his part, the scientist who announced he had discovered “deltacron” has defended his findings, telling Bloomberg on Sunday that the findings are not the result of a “technical error.”

In an emailed statement, Kostrikis said the cases he has identified “indicate an evolutionary pressure to an ancestral strain to acquire these mutations and not a result of a single recombination event.”

He also reportedly said that the findings come after the samples were processed in multiple sequencing procedures in more than one country and that at least one sequence from Israel deposited in a global database exhibits genetic characteristics of “deltacron.” CNBC has contacted Kostrikis for further comment and is yet to receive a reply.

Cyprus’ health minister, Michael Hadjipantela, said on Saturday that the ministry was aware of reports of “deltacron” and that it was not something to worry about at the moment, according to a local media report.

More on the disputed variant is due to be presented this week, Hadjipantela said, adding he was proud of the country’s scientists for their findings.

 

link  :  https://www.cnbc.com/2022/01/10/deltacron-variant-prompts-doubts-among-experts-as-possible-lab-error.html

 

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‘Deltacron': Experts say new variant may be a result of lab contamination

Person holding lab equipment — AFP/File.

Person holding lab equipment

 

 

  • A new possible COVID-19 variant "Deltacron" has recently surfaced.
  • Experts say that it might be the result of lab contamination.
  • Cyprus’ Health Minister says that it is not something to worry about at the moment.
  • While the world was still grappling with the highly-transmissible Omicron variant of the coronavirus which resulted in the surge of positive cases across the globe, a new possible variant — called the Deltacron — is now making headlines. 

    However, experts say that the so-called variant might be a result of lab contamination.

    Leondios Kostrikis, a professor of biological sciences at the University of Cyprus, discovered the potential new variant last weekend and said that the strain — which he named "Deltacron" — has omicron-like genetic signatures within the delta genomes, according to Bloomberg.

    Until now, 25 cases of the newly mutated variant have been found, Kostrikis and his team stated. The report further adds that it is too early to determine whether there were more cases of the apparent new strain or what impact it could have.

  • 'Deltacron is a hoax'

    Following the discovery of the new variant, some experts took to Twitter and expressed their doubts over the finding. Experts have tweeted that Deltacron is “not real” and “is likely due to sequencing artifact,” a variation introduced by a non-biological process.

    According to the World Health Organisation's (WHO) COVID-19 expert Dr Krutika Kuppalli, there was likely a “lab contamination of Omicron fragments in a Delta specimen.

    “Let’s not merge names of infectious diseases and leave it to celebrity couples,” Krutika Kuppalli stated in another tweet, per the report.

    A geneticist at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre — Fatima Tokhmafshan — agreed with Kuppalli and tweeted:

    “This is NOT a recombinant but rather lab contamination b/c [because] looking at recent GISAID submission from Cyprus the clustering & mutational profile indicate NO mutation consensus.”

    Kostrikis, who has discovered "Deltacron", defended his findings by informing Bloomberg that the "variant is not a result of a technical error.”

    Meanwhile, Cyprus’ Health Minister Michael Hadjipantela has said that the ministry was aware of the reports of “Deltacron," adding that "it was not something to worry about at the moment."

link  :  https://www.geo.tv/latest/392634-deltacron-experts-say-new-variant-may-be-a-result-of-lab-contamination

 

 

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NEW STRAIN 

What is the Deltacron Covid variant?

Tereza Shkurtaj   9:19 ET, Jan 9 2022    Updated: 9:30 ET, Jan 9 2022

 

A new Covid-19 variant was discovered in Cyprus on Saturday, January 9, 2022.

Researchers believe it is a combination of multiple variants and mutations of the coronavirus.

 

What is the Deltacron Covid variant?

Leondios Kostrikis, professor of biological sciences at the University of Cyprus, has discovered a new strain of the virus in Cyprus, a small island country in the eastern Mediterranean Sea.

10 of the mutations from Omicron have been found in the new variant.

He calls the strain 'Deltacron,' "due to the identification of omicron-like genetic signatures within the delta genomes," per Bloomberg.

Kostrikis and his team have found a total of 25 cases of the virus thus-far and are still searching for clues of the variant's possible impacts to the body.

What are governments saying about the new variant?

On January 8, Cyprus's Health Minister Michalis Hadjipandelas stated that the new variant was not yet something to worry about.

He also expressed pride in the country's scientists for discovering the new variant, according to The Jerusalem Post.

How many cases of Deltacron are there in America?

There have yet to be any cases of the Deltacron variant reported in the United States.

The new variant comes along as Omicron continues to spread globally.

 

"The U.S. is reporting a seven-day average of more than 600,000 new cases daily, according to a CNBC analysis Friday of data from Johns Hopkins University. That’s a 72% increase from the previous week and a pandemic record," reported CNBC.

Close up shot of syringe in laboratory

Close up shot of syringe in laboratory

 

link  :  https://www.the-sun.com/news/4425437/deltacron-varient-covid-cypress-new-coronavirus/

 

 
 
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Deltacron – All you need to know about the new variant

BHAKTI MAKWANA  JAN 10, 2022, 13:02 IST
  • A new strain of COVID-19 that combines features of the Delta and Omicron named Deltacron variants has been found in Cyprus.
  • As per media reports, 25 cases of Deltracron have been found in Cyprus.
  • However, the World Health Organization (WHO) has not yet recognised the new variant.

After a widely spread COVID-19 variant Omicron, now another variant has hit a corner of the world, in Cyprus.

What is the new virus ‘Deltacron’ all about?
Bloomberg reported that a new strain of COVID-19 that combines features of the Delta and Omicron named Deltacron variants has been found in Cyprus. The term Deltacron has been coined by Leondios Kostrikis, professor of biological sciences at the University of Cyprus and head of the Laboratory of Biotechnology and Molecular Virology.

Cases of Deltacron
As per media reports, 25 cases of Deltracron have been found in Cyprus. "We will see in the future if this strain is more pathological or more contagious or if it will prevail," said Kostrikis in an interview.

Reports say that Deltacron is higher among patients hospitalised due to COVID-19 as compared to non-hospitalised patients.

Not much to worry about
Note that the World Health Organization (WHO) has not yet recognised the new variant yet.

Virologist Tom Peacock said on Twitter that Deltacron may not be an actual variant, but possibly a result of contamination.

Reportedly Sunit K Singh, virologist and professor at Institute of Medical Sciences at Banaras Hindu University also indicated that Deltacron might not be very alarming. “It is in the nature of an RNA virus such as SARS-CoV-2, especially of a respiratory nature, to mutate. While we may find many mutations, its recombinant forms need to be processed. In public health, not every mutation is alarming,” he said.

 

link  :  https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/all-you-need-to-know-about-the-new-variant-deltacron/articleshow/88805635.cms

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A new COVID variant combines delta and omicron. Or maybe it doesn’t. Experts debate ‘deltacron.’

Updated: Jan. 10, 2022, 12:00 p.m. | Published: Jan. 10, 2022, 12:00 p.m.
US-NEWS-CORONAVIRUS-IVERMECTIN-ZUM
An electron microscopic image of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19
 

A new strain? Or a lab error?

 

A researcher in Cyprus claims to have discovered a new coronavirus variant — one that appears to be a combination of the delta and omicron strains, Bloomberg reported over the weekend.

 

But experts are crying foul.

 

Leondios Kostrikis, professor of biological sciences at the University of Cyprus, claims he and his colleagues have found 25 cases involving the new variant, according to Bloomberg.

However, health experts from around the world have questioned the findings, saying the so-called “deltacron” variant was likely the result of a lab processing error.

 
 

Dr. Krutika Kuppalli, a COVID-19 expert for the World Health Organization, issued a blunt statement Sunday on Twitter.

“Okay people let’s make this a teachable moment,” Kuppalli wrote, “there is no such thing as #Deltacron (Just like there is no such thing as #Flurona).”

 
 

She added it was likely the result of “lab contamination of Omicron fragments in a Delta specimen.”

 
 

According to Bloomberg, the sequences were sent to GISAID (Global Science Initiative and Primary Source), which promotes the rapid sharing of data from all influenza viruses and the coronavirus causing COVID-19.

 

link  :  https://www.nj.com/coronavirus/2022/01/a-new-covid-variant-combines-delta-and-omicron-or-maybe-it-doesnt-experts-debate-deltacron.html

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Is Deltacron dangerous? : A new COVID-19 Varient, Delta and Omcron | 2022

10/01/2022 by Vishal
Deltacron new covid 19 varient gyaneye
 

Deltacron, the new COVID-19 variant, According to a researcher working in Cyprus, a variant of the unique coronavirus is a consequence of the merger of both the Delta and Omicron variants. This variant is now being addressed as “Deltacron.” When the planet is already in the clutches of Omicron, speculations of this new variety are obviously worrying. However, according to a media organization, scientists have claimed that this variety is not even genuine and that there is nothing to fear about at present.

Is “Deltacron” an actual variant?

There is still much discussion over whether ‘Deltacron’ is an actual variant or not. According to a few media stories, Virologist Tom Peacock stated on social media, “So when new variants come through sequencing lab, contamination isn’t that rare (very very tiny volumes of liquid can cause this) – just generally these pretty clearly infected sequences aren’t disclosed by major news organizations.”

Researchers in Cyprus identified a novel coronavirus type named Deltacron last week. The revelation has generated further concerns. Although many scientists believe the newly identified coronavirus strain is not an actual variation, the scientist stands by his study. Mutations arise in all living species due to evolutionary pressure, he said. The virus at issue in this situation is a novel one—the WHO has identified a new kind of virus for the first time.

Because mosquitoes carry the virus, the “Deltacron” strain has been verified in 25 cases in Cyprus. The researchers discovered eleven mutations after comparing the sequences of these individuals to the “Omicron” virus. The samples were taken from both hospitalized and non-hospitalized individuals. Kostrikis says the “deltacron” variation is more frequent among COVID-19 patients than in the overall population.

The novel virus has characteristics of both the Delta and Omicron versions. While the results are concerning, virologist Dr. Tom Peacock of the Imperial Department of Infectious Diseases in the United Kingdom contends that the epidemic is not the consequence of a new strain. The genome of the most recent SARS-CoV-2 variant has Omicron-like genetic markers. While specialists do not think the current SARS-CoV-2 variation is pathogenic, they cannot rule out the “deltacron” as a potential alternative.

In 25 patients, a novel combination of Delta and Omicron Covid virus strains was discovered. It was also shown that hospitalized individuals were more prone to having this variation. The new strain is more frequent than the original COVID virus and has a greater relative incidence. The “Deltacron” is the name given to this combo. Despite its significant prevalence, the WHO has not formally classified the illness as a new strain of the COVID virus.

The novel Deltacron strain is a coronavirus discovered recently in Cyprus. It is thought to be a hybrid of the Omicron and Delta types. The virus was also found in a limited number of patients from a hospital in the United States, accounting for around half of all cases. Its identification may aid in preventing the virus’s spread to other nations. The WHO has advised clinicians to proceed with care since the new strain is unprotected.

The virus is the virus’s dacron. ‘The “Deltacron” variation is present in the genome of Deltacron, an octopus species. It has been commonly used in the past to kill individuals—the WHO has not yet formally acknowledged the new variation. Fortunately, there is no need to be concerned since the virus has been recognized for decades.

Deltacron has been found in 25 individuals, according to the researchers. Infection rates are higher in the latter group than in the former. The virus is linked to serious sickness in both populations. It does not, however, infect people. There are no known Deltacron instances in the United States. Researchers are unsure how many individuals have been infected, but the virus is dangerous to humans. It is known to cause severe illnesses and even death.

Deltacron varient

coronavirus a New varient deltacron covid 19 varient

 

Despite having omicron-like genetic markers, the new strain was dubbed “Deltacron” due to its resemblance to Omicron. Infections with both the omicron and delta strains are prevalent, but the ‘Deltacron’ variation was called for the omicron-like genetic markers it displays. As a result, it is a hybrid. In the Cyprus investigation, the novel variation was discovered in 25 individuals.

In Cyprus, there have been 25 Deltacron instances. The Omicron gene had ten mutations in the individuals that were analyzed. The samples come from both healthy and fragile people. In hospitalized patients, the ratio was higher than in the general community. According to the researchers, the novel variation was more prevalent among COVID-19 patients. This is a beautiful breakthrough, but the researchers are worried about its possible consequences. The sickness is a severe public health issue, and the new form will be constantly monitored.

The new coronavirus strain has a genetic background comparable to the Delta and Omicron alterations, but no name has been assigned to the new variety. Only one incidence of the Cypriot variety has been recorded in the general community. The virus was also generating an epidemic in the United States. A recent instance in the United States demonstrated that the virus was infectious. It was broadcast all across the globe in this manner.

link  :  https://vishalshaw.in/is-deltacron-dangerous-a-new-covid-19-varient-2022/

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Cyprus scientist says 'Deltacron' Covid variant came from plane passengers

Samples taken from arrivals suggest variant is already circulating elsewhere

A man receives a fourth dose of the coronavirus disease vaccine after Israel's Health Ministry approved a second booster for the immunocompromised at Sheba Medical Centre in Ramat Gan, Israel. Reuters

A man receives a fourth dose of the coronavirus disease vaccine after Israel's Health Ministry approved a second booster for the immunocompromised at Sheba Medical Centre in Ramat Gan, Israel.

 

Nick Webster   Jan 9, 2022

A form of the coronavirus that resembles Delta and Omicron mixed together was first detected among airline passengers who arrived in Cypriot airports, the chief scientist behind the discovery has said.

In an interview with The National, Dr Leondios Kostrikis said his team’s findings suggested the variant, nicknamed Deltacron, was circulating in other countries.

“The only thing we know for sure is that we have identified Deltacron in people coming from airports,” he said on Sunday.

“I don’t think this variant was created in Cyprus.”

There was a higher frequency of this mutation in hospitalised people, and it was not random  Dr Leondios Kostrikis, University of Cyprus

The variant features “Omicron-like genetic signatures within the Delta genomes,” he said.

About 25 cases have been discovered since it was identified by a team led by Dr Kostrikis, professor of biological sciences at the University of Cyprus, in collaboration with the republic’s Ministry of Health.

Dr Kostrikis said there was a “higher frequency of this mutation” in people who were admitted to hospital but that it was too soon to say whether it was more transmissible or deadly.

“We were monitoring the presence of Omicron to see how likely it was to become the dominant strain of the virus and takeover from other variants,” he said.

“The predominant strain in Cyprus is Omicron, with close to 70 per cent of new diagnoses identified as this particular variant.

“It is taking over and replacing other Delta strains of the virus.”

Dr Kostrikis has previously studied the transmission of HIV.

“Because of the different strains with different characteristics of Omicron amino acid polymorphis, this suggests it is a result of evolutionary pressure rather than a combination effect,” he said.

The study analysed about 200 people a week, isolated from the airports, hospitals and diagnostic centres, for a panoramic sample of the circulation of the virus in the country.

As part of this process, scientists at the University of Cyprus completed comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of all the sequences to see how the virus had mutated.

 

Although some samples were classified as Delta, they also showed the amino acid mutations seen in samples of Omicron.

The university is in contact with clinicians who can cross-check reported symptoms in those with Deltacron, to identify common symptoms and vaccination records.

Results could give an insight into any new symptoms associated with the variant, or how it responds to boosters.

Since Omicron emerged in early December, patients with the variant have reported milder symptoms than those seen earlier in the pandemic.

They include a cough, congestion, runny nose and fatigue, but unlike the Delta variant, many patients do not lose their senses of taste or smell.

 

But while Omicron seems less severe than the Delta, especially among vaccinated people, WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus cautioned against treating it lightly.

“Omicron is hospitalising people, and it’s killing people,” he said recently.

“In fact, the tsunami of cases is so huge and quick that it is overwhelming health systems around the world.”

In common with many places, Cyprus has reported a surge in infections in recent weeks.

On December 26, 912 new cases of Covid-19 were diagnosed in the country compared with 5,244 on January 7.

“When we performed statistical analysis, we found that this particular strain [Deltacron] was mostly found in hospitalised patients,” Dr Kostrikis said.

“So there was a higher frequency of this mutation in hospitalised people, and it was not random.

“The only thing we can interpret is there is a link, although we do not yet know the dynamics.

“The fact we were finding sequences with different numbers of Omicron mutations indicates that there is an independent evolutionary pressure in an ancestral Delta strain to acquire Omicron mutations.”

 

link  :  https://www.thenationalnews.com/uae/2022/01/09/deltacron-came-from-airports-says-cyprus-scientist/

 

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After 'IHU' in France, now Deltacron emerges in Cyprus: What we know about new variant

Dr Leondios Kostrikis at the University of Cyprus, said the frequency of mutation among hospitalised patients was higher and could point to a correlation between the new variant and hospitalisation

FP StaffJanuary 09, 2022 18:07:40 IST

Only days after France announced the discovery of the variant 'IHU', another new coronavirus variant Deltacron has emerged in Cyprus which has a similar genetic background to the Delta variant, as well as some of the mutations from Omicron.

So far, the scientific name of the new variant has not been announced.

But much like in the case of its French kin, experts say that it is not something to worry about just at the moment.

So here's what we know:

Deltacron

So far, in total, 10 of the mutations were found in the 25 samples taken in Cyprus. Eleven of the samples came from people who were hospitalised due to the virus, while 14 came from the general population, reported Jerusalem Post citing Cyprus Mail.

Dr Leondios Kostrikis, the head of the laboratory of biotechnology and molecular virology at the University of Cyprus, said that the frequency of the mutation among hospitalised patients was higher and could point to a correlation between the new variant and hospitalisations.

Kostrikis also emphasised that the variant has a similar genetic background to the Delta variant, as well as some of the mutations from Omicron.

The new variant was not something to worry about at the moment, said Cyprus's health minister Michalis Hadjipandelas on Saturday. He also expressed pride in discovering the new variant.

Hadjipandelas said, "The groundbreaking research and findings of Dr Kostrikis' team make us proud of our scientists." The minister also underlined that this research puts Cyprus on the international map when it comes to health matters, according to Jerusalem Post.

But according to a report by Hindustan Times, virologist Tom Peacock said on social media that Deltacron may not be an actual variant, but possibly a result of contamination. "So when new variants come through sequencing lab, contamination isn't that uncommon (very very tiny volumes of liquid can cause this) — just usually these fairly clearly contaminated sequences are not reported by major media outlets," he explained.

"Recombinants are definitely worth keeping an eye on and almost definitely will eventually be found, this particular example is almost definitely contamination though," he wrote.

 

link  :  https://www.firstpost.com/health/after-ihu-in-france-now-deltacron-emerges-in-cyprus-what-we-know-about-new-variant-10270581.html

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Covid variant or ‘scariant’? Experts warn a future ‘Deltacron’ is possible

Issued on: 11/01/2022 - 17:25

Health experts have cast doubt on reports of a possible Covid-19 mutation combining elements of both the Delta and Omicron variants. While the evidence on “Deltacron” remains scarce, French virologists warn that the emergence of such hybrid strains is a distinct possibility.

 

Talk of a possible new hybrid variant with a name from a Hollywood disaster B-movie spread like wildfire on social media at the weekend, leaving behind the now customary trail of conspiracy theories and black humour. While some prominent scientists rushed to warn against the risk of peddling disinformation, others have argued that rampant variants make the threat of such mutant strains all too real. 

The controversy kicked off on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus, currently roiled by Europe’s highest Covid-19 rate of infection, where a local team of scientists claimed last week to have discovered the new variant. Led by Leondios Kostrikis, a professor of biological sciences at the University of Cyprus, the scientists said the new strain presented Omicron-like genetic signatures within the Delta genomes – hence the name “Deltacron”.

Kostrikis told local daily Cyprus Times his team had found 25 cases of the mutation, including 11 cases among patients hospitalised with Covid-19. He noted a “higher frequency of mutations among hospital patients, which may suggest a correlation between Deltacron and hospitalisations.” He added it was too early to assess how contagious  or dangerous the apparent new strain would become.

Variant or ‘scariant’? 

The Cypriot team’s findings have been sent to GISAID, an international database that monitors and shares official data on Covid-19, giving other scientists access to the genetic details of “Deltacron”. Initial reactions have been sceptical at best, with prominent experts suggesting the apparent new strain looks more like a “scariant” – an unconfirmed strain causing a global scare – than a variant.

While it is possible for coronaviruses to genetically merge, a process known as biological recombination, experts noted that the alleged mutations identified by the Cypriot team were located on a part of the genome that is vulnerable to error in certain sequencing procedures.

"The Cypriot 'Deltacron' sequences reported by several large media outlets look to be quite clearly contamination," Tom Peacock, a virologist with the infectious diseases department at Imperial College London, tweeted at the weekend. In other words, according to Peacock, the reported new strain was most likely the result of a lab error, mixing samples from patients infected by Omicron and others by Delta.

Kostrikis promptly hit back, telling Bloomberg news agency in an emailed statement that the cases he identified “indicate an evolutionary pressure to an ancestral strain to acquire these mutations and not a result of a single recombination event.”

He pointed to at least one sequence from Israel deposited in a global database that exhibits genetic characteristics of the hybrid variant, adding: “These findings refute the undocumented statements that deltacron is a result of a technical error.”

‘Perfectly possible’

Since the start of the pandemic, scientists have struggled to counter a deluge of disinformation about Covid-19, much of it circulating online. Last week, unverified reports emerged of a "flurona" or "flurone" virus – a combination of flu and coronavirus – which the World Health Organization (WHO) dismissed on Monday.

In this context, is this hardly surprising that news of a “Deltacron” was met with prudence and scepticism among scientists. But according to Christian Bréchot, head of the Global Virus Network and a former director of the Institut Pasteur, there is “no reason to question the quality of the Cypriot team’s work.” 

Of course, “from a technical point of view, it is important to ensure that no artifact [editor’s note: lab contamination]  erroneously suggests cases of recombination,” Bréchot told FRANCE 24, adding that “further data will be needed to confirm the new variant.”

“In principle, a recombination of different variants is perfectly possible. It’s true of viruses in general and particularly of coronaviruses,” he said. “Once you have a high level of circulation of two variants, the likelihood of them recombining is significantly augmented. And it wouldn’t be the first time this kind of mutation occurs.”

Threat of future ‘Deltacrons’ 

Such a scenario is indeed perfectly possible, says virologist Christine Rouzioux, professor emeritus at Paris-Descartes University, while stressing the need for more data on the particular case of ‘Deltacron’.

“It is still too early to draw conclusions [on ‘Deltacron’],” she told FRANCE 24. “First we must verify the sequencing and then analyse the results on a cluster of cases. But in theory, the combination is perfectly possible.”

Whether or not this particular new strain is confirmed, the emergence in future of such hybrid variants remains a possibility, Bréchot warned: “So long as variants continue to thrive around the world, we will be at the mercy of this type of development. [...] This situation is further evidence of the fact that a strategy based on giving rich countries preferential access to vaccines is doomed to fail.”

“Delta appears to have originated in India and Omicron probably came from South Africa. Now we’re hearing about Deltacron in Cyprus. It is obvious that national strategies alone cannot work,” Bréchot added. “It is imperative that we define a global strategy, based on vaccinating people around the world.”

link  :  https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20220111-covid-variant-or-scariant-experts-warn-a-future-deltacron-is-possible

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On 1/10/2022 at 11:33 PM, md11fr8dawg said:

Ah YES, BOHICA!!  here comes another variant. IT WILL NEVER END folks. NEVER!!! They won't let it. Now get back in your fetal position in the corner with one thumb up your butt and one in your mouth and when  Fauci yells switch, well you'll know what to do!!!

yep. you were absolutely right " IT WILL NEVER END " and Omicron isn't over yet.  hopefully, RV comes sooner , so we can all enjoy and spend our new found wealth ( enjoy life while still can folks cause life is too short and unpredictable. )  before it comes another new variant again ( HOPEFULLY NOT!! ).

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45 minutes ago, nstoolman1 said:

It WILL end when enough people get fed up and push back. 

Thanks for your optimism nstoolman1. At least, somehow, there is still a big hope behind a dark side of covid. I wish this covid thing will be over soon and comes a sunshine that bring a good news that we have already been waiting for almost 19 years.

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