What is Delmicron?
Is there any new strain of the deadly Covid-19 virus known as Delmicron? How deadly is Delmicron and what can you do to prevent getting infected? These are some important questions that we will answer in this article.
Since yesterday, there’s been a lot of talk about a new variant of the Covid-19 virus. This new strain of virus is referred to as Delmicron and reportedly, is a combination mutant of the two earlier strains- Delta and Omicron.
It must be noted that nearly 75 percent of all fresh Covid-19 cases in the US are reportedly from the Omicron strain while the Delta strain had caused a resurgence in India in mid and late 2021, causing what’s commonly known now as the ‘second wave.’
So, what is exactly Delmicron strain and how deadly is this new mutant of the Covid-19 virus? In this article, we will answer all the questions you might have about Delmicron virus.
Understanding Delmicron
The full name for what we call as the Covid-19 virus is Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) Classic Coronavirus Disease 2019. This is abbreviated commonly as Covid-19.
Viruses are known to mutate. The Covid-19 virus mutated into several strains, notable among them being Delta, which is said to be the deadliest. And Omicron, whose effects on human health, the world is still trying to understand.
According to chatter on the Internet, Delmicron is a combination of the two strains- Delta and Omicron.
However, a report in India Today categorically states that there is no new strain of the Delta and Omicron variants known as Delmicron. The report further states that the World Health Organization (WHO), the US Center for Disease Control (CDC) and India’s own Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) have yet to categorize any variant of the SARS Coronavirus 2010 as the ‘Delmicron’ strain.
Another news report on WION specifically says: “No, Delmicron is not a new variant or mutation. Delmicron is a combination of the protein spiked of both Delta and Omicron.”
WION
However, there’re genuine fears that the Delta and Omicron viruses may mutate jointly. In a report by WION news, Moderna chief medical officer Paul Burton is quoted as saying that it was certainly possible, “Omicron and Delta could team up and create a more dangerous strain. The report also quotes an expert saying that it “is possible that Delta and Omicron could swap genes and trigger a variant, which is even more lethal. These events are scientifically called ‘recombination events’.”
However, as of now, there is no new strain of Covid-19 known as Delmicron, according to various news reports from India and abroad.
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Origin of Delmicron
Now that we know there’s no new variant of Covid-19 virus called as Delmicron, let’s see how the word originated.
India Today says: All the recent reports using the word Delmicron are based on a quote by Dr Shashank Joshi, a member of Maharashtra’s task force on Covid-19. Dr Joshi is reported to have said: “Delmicron, the twin spikes of Delta and Omicron, in Europe and US has led to a mini tsunami of cases.” Now, while some reports are talking about a possible new variant called Delmicron, that isn’t what Dr Joshi is talking about. Dr Joshi seems to be actually talking about situation where both the Delta and Omicron variants cause a spike in Covid-19 cases in a particular region,” the report states.
“So, it’s not a new variant of the novel coronavirus but basically is a situation where both Delta and Omicron variants either are found present in the same Covid-19 patient or are spreading rapidly in the same region,” the India Today report, adds.
Steps to Prevent Delmicron Infections
Medical experts aver that you can prevent infection by both, Delta and Omicron variants of the Covid-19 virus by following the regular safety protocols. These include:
- Social distancing
- Use of proper masks
- Use of hand sanitizers
- High level of personal hygiene
- Avoiding crowded places
- Proper nutrition
- Self-assessment for symptoms of Covid-19 infection
- Seeking timely medical help
What makes the Delta and Omicron strains dangerous is the fact that they can be found even in asymptomatic people or those who have no outward symptoms such as cough, colds, high fever or muscle pains.
You can also take a Real Time- Polymeric Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test if you suspect you’re infected by Delta or Omicron strains of the Covid-19 virus.
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Immunity to Vaccines
According to some medical experts, the Omicron variant of the virus is resistant to Covid-19 vaccines that’re currently available. Hence, they are calling for booster doses that could help counter the Omicron variant. So far, all vaccines have proved effective in countering the Delta strain. The Indian vaccine, Covishield, made by Serum Institute of India is particularly effective against the Delta strain.
However, in some fully vaccinated patients, the Omicron variant of the virus was found to be present, though it does not cause severe symptoms. Medical experts aver that vaccinations can help reduce the intensity of the Omicron strain.
Common Question Related to Delmicron
Q: What is Delmicron strain of Covid-19 ?
Currently, there is no strain of the Covid-19 virus known as Delmicron. In fact, the term Delmicron was used by medical experts to signify a condition where both the Delta and Omicron strains of the virus and their proteins are present in a single infected person.
Are there possibilities of a new strain called Delmicron emerging in future?
Medical experts are divided over this situation. While it is possible that proteins from the Delta and Omicron variants of the Covid-19 virus could merge and create an altogether new strain, the chances are fairly low. Furthermore, whether the new strain will be known as Delmicron or some other name is decided by WHO and CDC. At the moment, there is no virus called Delmicron.
Q: Are current vaccines efficient against Delmicron?
All vaccines available in India have proved effective against the Delta variant and known to reduce the severity of infections caused by Omicron. The Indian government might consider a third, booster dose to prevent future infections against other strains of the Covid-19 virus but such a decision has yet to be taken.
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