There are at least three versions of the recombination of the Omicron and Delta variants of the coronavirus

There are at least three versions of the recombination of the Omicron and Delta variants of the coronavirus. They are called Deltacron.

At the beginning of the year, Cypriot researchers had reported the discovery of such hybrids, but many scientists are convinced that this is just a laboratory error. However, now there is every reason to believe that the hybrid variants are more than real.

In such hybrid variants, the beginning—that is, the "head"—of the genome belongs to Delta, whereas the "tail"—to Omicron, according to Izvestia newspaper. The main risk of such variants is that they can combine, multiply rapidly, and at the same time have a stronger impact on the lungs and lead to severe complications.

However, so far there is no evidence of the development of such a dangerous variant. Moreover, according to researchers, such hybrid variants are usually less stable and viable than their predecessors.

In January, biologist, virologist, and immunologist Alexander Semenov had said that the Deltacron variant could provoke a new wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. The scientist believes that this hybrid of Omicron and Delta can become an independent version of the virus.

In his turn, Mikhail Bolkov, a researcher at the Department of Immunochemistry of the Ural Federal University, said that if hybrid viruses are detected in various countries on a regular basis, we can talk about the risk of their spread. According to the specialist, if the Deltacron were stable and showed potential, it would have spread to some extent in about two months. Therefore, according to the expert, it is too early to draw conclusions about the danger of such hybrids.