Deltacron variant: what symptoms? It’s dangerous? What do we know

Should the Deltacron variant be considered dangerous? Can it become a real concern? After the first news from Cyprus, further data is awaited, which also offer indications on any symptoms: in the meantime, the experts express themselves on the hypothesis of a mix between the Delta variant and the Omicron variant. From Matteo Bassetti to Massimo Galli, from Fabrizio Pregliasco to Pier Luigi Lopalco, attention is invited but without alarmism. Monitor, therefore, but without excess. The symptoms apparently fit into the already known trend of covid, with the ‘2.0’ framework already modified by Omicron, which compared to Delta seems to be characterized by more evident effects on the upper airways: throat and nose, therefore, more than lungs. “About Deltacron we need to understand more. Some virological experts say it is not a new variant but a laboratory error, therefore more a contamination of Omicron on Delta. From the Imperial College of London some virologists also question the very existence of this variant. So, let’s try to be less alarming and wait to understand more “, Matteo Bassetti, director of the Infectious Diseases Clinic at the San Martino hospital in Genoa, told Adnkronos Health. Deltacron” certainly deserves attention “according to Professor Massimo Galli . “It could prove to be more dangerous and worrying than the other variants, however, only if it proved more widespread than Omicron. And this I think is not very likely.” “It certainly deserves consideration and study – he continues – considering that the two recombined variants are different from each other. , the fact that such a phenomenon can occur cannot be overlooked. We must study it with the necessary attention “.” It is too early “to know what the consequences of the possible spread of ‘Deltacron’ might be, he says to the Adnkronos Salute the virologist Giovanni Maga, director of the Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Cnr of Pavia. “There are still few cases. It is not necessarily worse. It is certainly something to keep under close observation and, with sequencing, it is necessary to always know, precisely, how much it spreads. In reality, it could even disappear or be less ‘efficient’, from the point of view of the virus, of Omicron. We still have many question marks and few certain answers “. “At the moment it is under observation, but it is not yet defined as a variant of concern. To learn a little more it will take between 15 days and three weeks”, says virologist Fabrizio Pregliasco. “For now – explains l ‘expert – we only know that it is a variant that combines the mutations of both variants and that has seen a small number of reports for some time, but it is a question of understanding how widespread it is “. It is not known in fact if the new mutation has taken the diffusivity of the Omicron and the aggressiveness of the Delta or other aspects. “It is all to be identified – emphasizes the virologist -. To date we only have to see the positive fact that if we are careful we can also monitor these variants, there are more than a thousand registered”. At the moment “we don’t know much”, he said. epidemiologist Pier Luigi Lopalco, professor of hygiene at the University of Salento. “The worrying aspect linked to new variants is linked to two factors: the first is that it is more contagious, and with Omicron it is a great challenge; the second is that it has a higher level of pathogenicity. In short, that they combine diffusivity and aggressiveness. it would be the big risk, but it is quite unlikely. ” “If Deltacron is no longer contagious than Omicron it will go out on its own, as will other variants because Omicron has a high competitive advantage,” he points out.