"Deltacron" has been officially identified as a coronavirus variant.The World Health Organisation (WHO) issued an update over the strain, with cases discovered in France, the Netherlands, Denmark and the US.Deltacron is a Covid strain that combines parts of Delta and Omicron.
On Tuesday, March 8, virologists from L'Institut Pasteur in Paris submitted the full genomic sequencing of a 'Deltacron' variant to GSAID, the international covid database, which confirmed the strain as a variant.The WHO is 'tracking and discussing the variant' following research into the strain.This mutation was "to be expected, especially with intense circulation of Omicron & Delta", said Maria van Kerkhove, the WHO's Covid technical lead.A cluster of cases have been found in France and a WHO briefing on March 9 confirmed cases in Netherlands and Denmark.
Last month, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reported one case of Delta x Omicron had been discovered in the UK, developed by a person who had contracted both variants, Sky News reports.
However, more details on Deltacron's prevalence in the UK is to be reported in a briefing on Friday. It follows a warning by the head of the UKHSA that the pandemic is 'not over'.