Is Deltacron A Variant Of Concern?
Another Covid surge is spreading across the globe triggering shutdowns in China and suspicion from the World Health Organization and other public health entities. Here’s what you need to know about an emerging variant:
How We Got Here
According to a preprint study from Helix, the surge for Omicron that occurred after Thanksgiving in 2021 into early 2022 along with already present Delta strains allowed for “co0nfections and possible recombination events”. This study is undergoing peer review and is expected to be fully published in the coming weeks.
The World Health Organization, however, confirmed in a press briefing that cases of Deltacron are already present in France, the Netherlands, Denmark and the United States. Presently, according to the WHO, “we have not seen any change in the epidemiology with this recombinant. We haven’t seen any change in severity. But there are many studies underway”. Detection of the variant has been low and researchers note that it is too soon to know whether it will become a variant of concern.
What Are The Symptoms?
No new symptoms have been reported currently. The variant is still being detected at low levels so it is difficult to assess any remarkable differences in symptoms. Symptoms for Delta and Omicron are well established, however, they are listed below for easy reference.
- Fever and chills.
- Sore throat or cough.
- Low energy and fatigue.
- Headaches.
- Nausea.
- Loss of sense of smell.
- Loss of sense of taste.
- Symptoms like a common cold.
- Runny nose.
- Headache.
- Fatigue.
- Sneezing.
- Sore throat.
- Persistent cough.
- Hoarse voice.
- Chills or shivers.
- Fever.
- Dizziness.
- Brain fog.
- Muscle pains.
- Loss of smell.
- Chest pain.
What Do We Do For Now?
Keep your eyes on current news releases from reputable, scientific sources. Pay attention to those around you, if someone seems like they have signs and symptoms of an infectious disease, use proper hand hygiene and clean your area. Consider masking again. Many mandates for masking and distancing have been changed or lifted entirely, that does not mean the usual rules for normal public health behaviors change. Keep yourself clean, stay away from people who are sick and ensure that you monitor your own health. If you are sick, consider staying home. Take care of yourself by resting, eating healthily, maintaining good hygiene and monitoring infectious diseases in your area.
