En France, Denmark, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands, a few dozen patients have contracted a rather specific form of Covid-19. This is Deltacron, the hybrid variant that merges the genetic information of Delta and Omicron.
Nearly three months after its appearance in Europe, the Deltacron variant, by its scientific name XD, has finally been recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO). Although its level of dangerousness has not yet been announced, this variant raises new concerns.
Indeed, Deltacron is more than a simple variant, it is a so-called recombinant variant. “The Deltacron variant is the result of a recombination between the Omicron and Delta variants. This happens in people who have caught two different strains, especially those with weakened immunity. The recombination occurs following an intense multiplication of the two strains at the same time”, explains Dr. Tayeb Hamdi, physician, researcher in health systems and policies and vice-president of the National Federation of Health.
Stressing that recombination, otherwise called hybridization, is a very recurrent phenomenon in the virological universe, Hamdi specifies that this category of variant is often difficult to detect. “Although the recombination is predictable, it is difficult to identify, since the hybrid variants are almost similar to the original versions. However, recombination should not be confused with mutation. During a mutation, the variant loses part of its genome, while for hybridization, two different variants recombine and exchange their genetic material.
The Delta and Omicron variants have caused a tsunami of infections in all regions of the world. This raises a lot of questions, especially as to the dangerousness of Deltacron, resulting from these two variants.
“Certainly, the Delta and Omicron variants took off the contaminations, on the other hand, that in no way prejudges the virulence or the immune escape of Deltacron. Having both variants at the same time does not necessarily mean an accumulation of severity or transmissibility. Deltacron will have its own characteristics and so far it is spreading at a very slow speed,” says Hamdi.
To date, no case of Deltacron has been recorded in Morocco. Despite the reopening of the borders, the vice-president of the National Health Federation believes that the spread of this hybrid variant in Europe presents nothing to worry about for the Kingdom. “At this point, Deltacron is nothing to worry about. The reopening of the borders will not change much. Morocco can continue to ease its restrictions. In addition, the virus is still there endemic, it is therefore necessary to complete its vaccination schedule as soon as possible.
Mr. Ait Ouaanna