World Health Organization (WHO) have not seen clear indications that the variant of COVID that combines Omicron and Delta be more serious both strains separately. “We are aware of this recombination. It is a combination of Delta AY.4 and Omicron BA.1. It has been detected in France, the Netherlands and Denmark, but at very low levels”, the Dr. Maria Van KerkhoveWHO epidemiologist, from Geneva, Switzerland.
“This recombination was expected, there are many studies underway” to find out if the effect on people is more or less serious and, at the moment, it is being studied, since the vast majority of those infected have some dose of the vaccine and an infection of another variant has already passed.
Where was it first detected?
It was in the Pasteur Institute of France where the first strong evidence of the existence of this variant has been found, which was identified in various regions of France and has been circulating since the beginning of January 2022. Viral genomes have also been identified in Denmark and the Netherlands.
The WHO has said that ‘Deltacron’ is the colloquial term with which this variant was called from some sectors, the result of contamination during the sequencing process. “Having said that, one can be infected with different strains of SARS-CoV-2. Whatever you can do to minimize your exposure to both SARS-CoV-2 and the flu will benefit you,” Van Kerkhove said.
Increase in cases in Asia
“Many countries in Asia and the Pacific are facing rising cases and deaths from Covid-19. The virus continues to evolve, and we continue to face major obstacles in getting vaccines, tests and treatments to all the places where they are needed, she said.
China registered 3,939 COVID-19 infections in 24 hours on Sunday, the highest figure in two years in the Asian giant, where the population of several cities was confined by outbreaks of the virus, reported the National Health Commission.
The increase in infections led the authorities to close schools in Shanghai and confine city dwellers in the northeastwhile 19 provinces face outbreaks of omicron and delta variants of coronavirus.
A pandemic that is two years old
“Two years later, more than 6 million people have died. Although reported Covid cases and deaths are declining around the world, and several countries have lifted restrictions, the pandemic is far from over, and it will not end anywhere until it ends everywhere, the World Health Organization said this week. WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.