"How far will COVID go... New variant 'Deltacron' found in the US and Europe"

Medical staff are caring for patients in the COVID-19 ward. [Source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Sumi Hwang] Foreign media reports have emerged that a new COVID-19 variant called 'Deltacron,' a mix of Omicron and Delta, has been discovered in Europe and the United States.

According to the LA Times and others on the 11th (local time), health authorities in various countries are paying close attention to the newly identified Deltacron variant.

Dr. Erica Pan, an epidemiologist at the health department, warned the day before, "Although Deltacron cases are few nationwide, they are being reported," adding, "This is a sign that the next wave may come, though we do not know when, so we are closely monitoring it." However, she added, "At this point, there is no need for concern."

Deltacron is a combination of the Delta variant, which was once the dominant strain worldwide, and the currently dominant Omicron variant. It was first discovered in January on the island nation of the Republic of Cyprus in the Eastern Mediterranean.

However, the transmissibility and severity of Deltacron have not yet been determined. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) currently do not consider Deltacron to be a variant of interest or concern.

Meanwhile, the Deltacron virus has also been reported in countries such as France, the Netherlands, and Denmark. According to China Central Television (CCTV) on the 10th, Maria Van Kerkhove, head of the WHO COVID-19 technical team, stated at a press conference held that day, "Deltacron has been identified in regions including France, the Netherlands, and Denmark, but at very low levels."

Team leader Van Kerkhove added, "The WHO is tracking this variant, and its severity is not different from other variants."