New Variant Out and About = should anyone throw away masks

[Razoo]

Delta-omicron hybrid variant identified for the first time

Scientists say they will need to conduct studies to find out the severity of the new variant

www.livescience.com

Scientists have confirmed the existence of a new COVID-19 variant that combines mutations from both omicron and delta variants for the first time, and there are reported cases in both Europe and the U.S.

The new hybrid variant, unofficially dubbed "deltacron", was confirmed through genome sequencing performed by scientists at IHU Méditerranée Infection in Marseille, France, and has been detected in several regions of France, according to a paper posted to the preprint database medRxiv on Tuesday (March 8).

Cases have also been found in Denmark and The Netherlands, according to the international database GISAID. Separately, two cases have been identified in the U.S. by the California-based genetics research company Helix, according to Reuters. In addition, about 30 cases have been identified in the U.K., according to The Guardian.


The hybrid variant arose through a process called recombination — when two variants of a virus infect a patient simultaneously, exchanging genetic material to create a new offspring. Scientists say that the "backbone" of the deltacron variant comes from the delta variant, while its spike protein — which enables the virus to enter host cells — derives from omicron, according to the medRxiv paper.

 

[bongsaway]

This does not sound good at all if I'm getting what is being described correctly? It's deadly like delta and communicable as omicron? Scary

 

[Gateman_Wen]

Delta-omicron hybrid variant identified for the first time

Scientists say they will need to conduct studies to find out the severity of the new variant

www.livescience.com

Scientists have confirmed the existence of a new COVID-19 variant that combines mutations from both omicron and delta variants for the first time, and there are reported cases in both Europe and the U.S.

The new hybrid variant, unofficially dubbed "deltacron", was confirmed through genome sequencing performed by scientists at IHU Méditerranée Infection in Marseille, France, and has been detected in several regions of France, according to a paper posted to the preprint database medRxiv on Tuesday (March 8).

Cases have also been found in Denmark and The Netherlands, according to the international database GISAID. Separately, two cases have been identified in the U.S. by the California-based genetics research company Helix, according to Reuters. In addition, about 30 cases have been identified in the U.K., according to The Guardian.


The hybrid variant arose through a process called recombination — when two variants of a virus infect a patient simultaneously, exchanging genetic material to create a new offspring. Scientists say that the "backbone" of the deltacron variant comes from the delta variant, while its spike protein — which enables the virus to enter host cells — derives from omicron, according to the medRxiv paper.

Don't panic yet, let the scientists work.

But nobody says you should let down your guard yet either.