The imminent threat of new coronavirus variants with the potential to fuel a new surge in Covid infections remains a source of concern, as the most recent genetic sequencing data from the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) and GSAID indicate that there are 568 Covid sequences under investigation in various genetic laboratories in India that contain both the Delta and Omicron variants.
So far, 25 Deltacron instances have been reported in Telangana, while Karnataka continues to be a hotspot with 221, followed by 90 in Tamil Nadu, 66 in Maharashtra, 20 in New Delhi, 33 in Gujarat, and 32 in West Bengal.
The presence of genetic signatures from both Delta and Omicron variants in 568 Covid sequences indicates the presence of the recombinant virus, which means it comprises genetic material from both variants or genes from both types.
According to health officials in Hyderabad, the mounting evidence of Delta and Omicron recombination indicates that the coronavirus is constantly developing, which is reason enough for people to be careful and realise that the epidemic is far from ended.
A few days ago, the Pasteur Institute of France presented evidence of Delta and Omicron recombinant viruses, and its data and analysis provided definite confirmation of authentic recombinant virus derived from Delta and Omicron lineages, prompting representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO) to acknowledge and warn countries.
We have known that recombinant events can occur, in humans or animals, with several circulating forms of SARSCoV2,” said WHO Chief Scientist Dr Soumya Swaminathan on Twitter. Experiments are required to determine the properties of this virus. As we cope with this pandemic, the need for sequencing, analytics, and rapid data sharing cannot be overstated.
The INSACOG gene sequencing analyses suggest that both the Delta and Omicron variants were prevalent at the same time in states such as Telangana at one point. Omicron was initially reported in December 2021 and became active in January 2022, at which point the Delta version was still active and had not been completely supplanted by Omicron, giving plenty of room for recombinant viral development.
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