COVID: new 'Deltacron' coronavirus variant discovered in Cyprus

Authored by jpost.com and submitted by goforth1457
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A new coronavirus variant nicknamed "Deltacron" has been discovered in Cyprus, local media reported on Saturday.

The variant has a similar genetic background to the Delta variant, as well as some of the mutations from Omicron, explained Dr. Leondios Kostrikis, the head of the laboratory of biotechnology and molecular virology at the University of Cyprus, according to the Cyprus Mail.

In total, 10 of the mutations from Omicron were found in the 25 samples taken in Cyprus. 11 of the samples came from people who were hospitalized due to the virus, while 14 came from the general population.

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Kostrikis theorized that the fact that the frequency of the mutation among hospitalized patients was higher could point to a correlation between the new variant and hospitalizations.

Cyprus's Health Minister Michalis Hadjipandelas stated on Saturday that the new variant was not something to worry about at the moment and expressed pride in the country's scientists for discovering the new variant.

People wait outside a vaccination centre, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in Limassol, Cyprus May 4, 2021 (credit: YIANNIS KOURTOGLOU/REUTERS)

"The groundbreaking research and findings of Dr. Kostrikis’ team make us proud of our scientists as this research puts Cyprus on the international map when it comes to health matters," said Hadjipandelas, according to the Cyprus Mail.

Cyprus's Health Ministry plans to announce more information about the new variant in a press conference at the beginning of the week. The scientific name of the new variant has not been announced as of yet.

Holmes02 on January 9th, 2022 at 04:04 UTC »

We’ve been delta second hand.

FacegrinderWon on January 9th, 2022 at 03:49 UTC »

I want to get off mr bones wild ride

Cougardoodle on January 9th, 2022 at 03:21 UTC »

Deltacron

We are perilously close to sounding like Transformers.