As the Covid-19 epidemic continues to spread all over the world, a new mutation of the virus has been discovered. At the head of the team consisting of scientists working at the Cyprus University Biotechnology and Molecular Virology Laboratory in the Greek Cypriot Administration (GCA). Leontios Kostrikis announced that they discovered a new mutation called Deltacron, a hybrid of Covid-19’s Omicron and Delta mutations.
THE NAME OF THE NEW MUTATION IS DELTACRON
Kostrikis stated that the new mutation shares the genetic background of the Delta mutation with some mutations of Omicron, and therefore the new mutation discovery was named “Deltacron”.
Kostrikis stated that it is possible that the mutation in question has not been identified anywhere else in the world, and therefore there may be global interest in this discovery.
DETECTED IN A TOTAL OF 25 PEOPLE
Noting that his team detected Deltacron in a total of 25 people, 11 of whom were hospitalized due to Covid-19, Kostrikis stated that according to the statistical analysis, the mutation is more common among hospitalized patients.
ITS EFFECT WILL BE SEEN IN THE FUTURE
Stating that samples from 25 cases were sent to the Global Initiative for Sharing Influenza Virus Data (GISAID), the international database that tracks changes in Covid-19 yesterday, Kosrikis said, “Is this mutation more pathological or more contagious or more dominant than Delta and Omicron? We’ll see what happens in the future,” he said.
Greek Cypriot Health Minister Michalis Hadjipantelas said in a statement, “Dr. “The groundbreaking research and findings of Kostrikis’ team make us proud of our scientists, as this research puts the GCASC in the international position on health issues.” (UAV)