Uttam Maharjan

The Omicron variant of the coronavirus is the latest strain affecting people all over the world. This variant surfaced after the Delta variant. However, the Omicron variant is milder but more transmissible than the Delta variant.

Now, scientists have confirmed the emergence of a hybrid coronavirus – Deltacron. As the name suggests, the Deltacron is a hybrid of Delta and Omicron and has mutations from both the variants. The variant has emerged through a process called genetic recombination. Genetic recombination occurs when two variants of a virus infect a person at the same time and exchange genetic material so as to produce a hybrid. For example, when a person is in a crowd, he may pick up two variants of a virus like the coronavirus. During the COVID-19 pandemic, two or more variants of the coronavirus have swirled together at the same time and in the same areas. This has made an enabling environment for genetic recombination to occur.

Immune system
According to scientists, the body of the Deltacron variant derives from the Delta variant, whereas the spike protein comes from the Omicron variant. The spike protein is of paramount importance when it comes to invading cells. The main target of antibodies produced through infections and vaccinations is neutralising the spike protein. That is why protection against the Delta variant acquired through infections and vaccinations should counteract the Deltacron variant. The surface of the variant is very similar to that of the Omicron variant, so the immune system will recognise the hybrid variant and make it ineffective.

The spike protein of the Omicron variant is weak enough to cause severe illness. The variant is capable of invading the nose and upper airway cells but not the lungs. That is why despite its high transmissibility many infected people have quickly recovered from the disease. The Deltacron variant may have the same characteristics as the Omicron variant when it comes to causing illness.
Viruses mutate over time. The more they spread to people, more they undergo mutation. Likewise, genetic recombination is a natural process. Experts say recombinant variants are common. Recombination may occur both in humans and animals. There could be several different recombinant Deltacron viruses.

The Deltacron variant has surfaced in the USA and some European countries such as the UK, France, Denmark and the Netherlands. The variant has existed at least since January 2022. As the cases of the variant are fewer, scientists do not know much about it: how it spreads and if it can cause severe illness. Scientists have not seen any changes in the epidemiology of the variant. Neither have they seen changes in the severity of the disease caused by it. In fact, the variant does not have the ability to grow rapidly.

Many studies are underway to know more about the Deltacron variant. There is not enough data about various aspects of the variant such as its transmissibility, the severity of the disease it causes and its ability to evade vaccine-induced immune protection. So results of experiments are being awaited to determine the characteristics of the variant. Further, its behaviour is under surveillance and its genetic surveillance is being maintained.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has not classified the Deltacron variant among the viruses of concern. Scientists are of the opinion that the variant could not be a severe form of the coronavirus. According to scientists, a virus with a mix of genes from two variants may not be effective at causing serious illness. However, the variant could affect vulnerable groups such as unvaccinated or under-vaccinated people or those whose vaccine-induced immune protect has declined.

Emergence of one variant after the other has challenged the medical community. Scientists are working their fingers to the bone to rid the world of COVID-19. They have developed vaccines in a relatively short span of time. The vaccination drive is now going on all over the world. Still, the elimination of the disease seems to be a far cry.

If anything, COVID-19 has escalated in some parts of the world where it was kept low for around two years. Bhutan is witnessing a spike in coronavirus infections. Some Pacific nations have also witnessed a rise in infections. Likewise, China, where the disease had been subdued until recently, has seen a sudden increase in infections to the extent that it had to lock down Jilin Province and Shenzhen city. However, the number of deaths from the disease has remained stubbornly constant at 4,636 for quite a long time.

Public health
Emergence of variants of a virus is natural process and may have an impact on public health. Variants of the coronavirus have been classified taking into account the threats posed to public health. The current classification of variants includes variants being monitored, variants of interest, variants of concern and variants of high consequence. Both Delta and Omicron have been classified as variants of concern but the hybrid variant, Deltacron, has not been classified as such because there are few cases and studies are going on to know more about the variant.

Emergence of the coronavirus in various forms has defied the efforts of the medical community to eradicate COVID-19. On the one hand, the medical community is making efforts at eradicating the disease, while on the other people should also fulfil their obligations such as observing health safety protocols and getting jabs. The tendency of people not to adhere to health safety protocols when the infection rate declines is not good. Only the concerted action on the part of the medical community, governments, people and other stakeholders can mitigate the impact of the disease on public health.

(Maharjan has been regularly writing on contemporary issues for this daily since 2000. uttam.maharjan1964@gmail.com)