Cyprus Detects New COVID-19 Variant, Named 'Deltacron'

Cyprus detected a new COVID-19 strain that is a hybrid of Delta and Omicron variants, RT reported on Sunday.

The hybrid was discovered by Leondios Kostrikis, professor of Biological Sciences at the University of Cyprus and head of the Laboratory of Biotechnology and Molecular Virology, and it was named "Deltacron."

Kostrikis explained: "There are currently omicron and delta co-infections, and we found this strain that is a combination of these two."

Regarding naming it Deltacron, the professor highlighted that it was "due to the identification of omicron-like genetic signatures within the delta genomes."

Kostrikis’s team discovered about 25 cases with the new infectious blend. He added that the new variant could be more prevalent among hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

He continued: “We will see in the future if this strain is more pathological or more contagious or if it will prevail."

It is worthy to mention that Moderna’s official Paul Burton warned of a new super-variant can be created in the case of a human contracted dual infection by Delta, Omicron and COVID-19. Although getting infected by two variants at the same time is rare, it can result in a new mutation due to the rapid changes that would occur to the DNA of the virus’ cell.

Burton explained that Delta and Omicron infections are surging now across the UK, so the possibility of watching dual infections by both strains at the same time is more possible.