the variant BA.2 of Omicron is currently majority in France. But another variant of Covid-19 is subject to increased surveillance by health authorities: the XD variantbetter known as “Deltacron”.
The XD variant is actually the new name given to the variant “Deltacron”. This mutation, originating from the recombination of the Delta and Omicron variants, was for the first discovered in a laboratory in Cyprus in January 2022. Some scientists then suspected a laboratory error, which Professor Leondios Kostrikis at the origin of the discovery had defended himself, explaining that his 25 samples had not been sequenced at the same time or in the same place. “There are currently Omicron and Delta co-infections, and we found this strain which is a combination of both”, he had indicated to the Cypriot private channel Sigma TV at the beginning of January, specifying that this mutation presented “the genetic signature of Omicron and Delta genomes”.
In its epidemiological update of March 23, Public Health France explains that this new variant is composed of:
Should we be worried about this variant that combines the dangerousness of Delta and the contagiousness of Omicron? In the columns of Cyprus Timesthe teacher explained that the frequency of mutations was greater in patients in hospital“which may lead to think that there is a correlation between Deltacron and hospitalizations”.
For its part, Public Health France only indicates that t Very few data are available on the characteristics of this variantbut investigations are ongoing.
Rise in contamination in France
As of March 2, 2022, 18 cases of “Deltacron” had been detected in France. In its last epidemiological point, Public Health France lists more than double.
Variant XD: 54 cases identified in France
As of March 21, 2022, “54 cases of infection with the XD variant (36 confirmed cases sequenced and 18 suspected cases not sequenced but linked to a confirmed case) had been investigated by the regional cells of Public Health France”, details the Agency. Among these cases investigated, there would be 29 men and 25 women with a median age at 32 which is “similar to that of cases of infections by Omicron investigated between November 2021 and January 2022”. In addition, a significant proportion of these cases are associated with clusters, mostly family. “The vaccination status was available for 46 cases”, specify the health authorities. 23.9% of patients had even received three doses.
3 regions particularly affected by this new variant
Among the 54 cases identified, we find:
- 20 patients in Normandie
- 13 people infected in the Hauts-de-France
- 9 patients in Occitanie
- 4 patients in Ile-de-France and in the Grand Est
- 3 infections in Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur
- 1 sick individual in Brittany
5 symptoms of the XD variant
“No critical care admissions and no deaths have not been reported, but a longitudinal follow-up would be necessary to confirm this”, says the Health Agency.
Three people have been hospitalized with this variant, but “the first case was hospitalized for a reason other than the Covid-19 and tested on admission”, specifies the Agency. The second case was hospitalized 24 hours for fever and vomiting. The third, vaccinated with three doses, “suffered from chronic respiratory problems and was also hospitalized less than 24 hours”.
The most common clinical signs
According to data from Public Health France, symptoms the most common of the XD variant are:
- asthenia (58%)
- headaches (56%)
- fever (46%)
- cough (42%)
- sore throat (38%)
“Only two of the cases investigated were asymptomaticboth children under the age of 10.”